Multiscale Geometric Design Principles Applied to 3D Printed Schwarzites.
Seyed Mohammad Sajadi1, Peter Samora Owuor1, Steven Schara1
1Department of Materials Science and NanoEngineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, 77005, USA.
Advanced Materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)
|November 16, 2017
Summary
Schwartzite structures, 3D printed and simulated, exhibit remarkable load-bearing and impact resistance due to a unique layered deformation mechanism, paving the way for novel engineered materials.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Solid Mechanics
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Schwartzites are 3D porous solids with periodic minimal surfaces.
- These structures exhibit negative Gaussian curvatures.
- They possess potential for unusual mechanical and electronic properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate the mechanical behavior of primitive and gyroid schwartzite structures.
- Explore responses under compressive loads and kinetic impact.
- Assess the potential of 3D printed schwartzites as advanced materials.
Main Methods:
- 3D printing of schwartzite geometries at centimeter scales.
- Molecular dynamics simulations.
- Finite element simulations for mechanical analysis.
Main Results:
- Schwartzite structures demonstrate high load-bearing capacity.
- They exhibit significant impact resistance.
- A unique layered deformation mechanism was identified during loading.
Conclusions:
- 3D printed schwartzites show promise for creating high load-bearing and impact-resistant materials.
- Scalable techniques like 3D printing enable exploration of complex geometries.
- Engineered materials with tunable properties can be developed from these structures.
