Energy Absorption of 3D Printed ABS and TPU Multimaterial Honeycomb Structures

Area of Science:

• Additive Manufacturing
• Materials Science
• Mechanical Engineering

Background:

• Multimaterial 3D printing enables synergistic material properties in engineered structures.
• Cellular structures like honeycombs offer high energy absorption crucial for safety and performance.
• Optimizing energy absorption in honeycombs can be achieved through advanced material strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• Investigate the energy absorption capabilities of square and hexagonal honeycombs.
• Utilize acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) in honeycomb fabrication.
• Analyze the impact of multimaterial combinations on honeycomb compressive response.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of square and hexagonal honeycombs using ABS and TPU.
• Testing of honeycombs under out-of-plane and in-plane compressive loading.
• Evaluation of energy absorption for single-material (ABS, TPU) and dual-material (ABS with TPU band) configurations.

Main Results:

• Out-of-plane energy absorption significantly increased with ABS/TPU ratios, reaching up to 15.1 kN·mm for hexagonal honeycombs.
• In-plane loading showed sequential collapse in square honeycombs (0.1-2.6 kN·mm) and gradual failure in hexagonal honeycombs (0.6-2.0 kN·mm).
• Dual-material honeycombs demonstrated enhanced and tunable energy absorption compared to single-material counterparts.

Conclusions:

• Multimaterial combinations in 3D printed honeycombs significantly influence compressive response.
• Tailoring ABS/TPU ratios offers a method for controlled energy absorption and deformation.
• These findings provide a foundation for designing advanced engineered systems with optimized safety and performance.