Multimaterial 3D Printing of Programmable Architected Structures

Research on architected structures has been developed extensively in recent years. This is because of their unique capabilities, offering a wide range of properties from enhanced mechanical strength to energy and vibration absorption. Thanks to advances in 3D printing technologies, there is the possibility to design and fabricate complex structures using multiple materials with diverse properties. However, strong adhesion between dissimilar materials is required to ensure integrity in the fabricated multimaterial structures. This study investigates the role of the applied designs and materials on the functional characteristics of the architected structures. Different multimaterial configurations are evaluated based on energy absorption performance. This study also realizes how to manipulate the local structure and composition, with a combination of soft and hard materials, to achieve a broad range of mechanical responses. Therefore, it provides a unique opportunity to help program the architected metamaterial based on the required functionality.