Nature-inspired materials and structures using 3D Printing

Emulating the unique combination of structural, compositional, and functional gradation in natural materials is exceptionally challenging. Many natural structures have proved too complex or expensive to imitate using traditional processing techniques despite recent advances. Recent innovations within the field of additive manufacturing (AM) or 3D Printing (3DP) have shown the ability to create structures that have variations in material composition, structure, and performance, providing a new design-for-manufacturing platform for the imitation of natural materials. AM or 3DP techniques are capable of manufacturing structures that have significantly improved properties and functionality over what could be traditionally-produced, giving manufacturers an edge in their ability to realize components for highly-specialized applications in different industries. To this end, the present work reviews fundamental advances in the use of naturally-inspired design enabled through 3DP / AM, how these techniques can be further exploited to reach new application areas, and the challenges that lie ahead for widespread implementation. An example of how these techniques can be applied towards a total hip arthroplasty application is provided to spur further innovation in this area.