3D-Printed Bio-Sourced Meta-material: Tensile Properties

Lightweight materials are in high demand across several industries that require materials capable of withstanding various loads. One of the most common ways to achieve lightweight materials is through the use of architectural sandwiches that involve printing two skins onto a honeycomb structure. These sandwiches provide a versatile solution for providing specific mechanical and dynamic properties that are suitable for different industrial sectors. The current study focuses on the tensile properties of auxetic and non-auxetic materials made from three different honeycomb structures, namely rectangular, re-entrant, and hexagonal lattice. The study uses a bio-based material consisting of flax fibers and polylactic acid, which is a sustainable and environmentally friendly option. The specimens fabricated using a Raise3DPro2 Plus printer, and various tensile tests performed on honeycomb structures with different relative densities of the unit cell to determine the effect of honeycomb lattices on the tensile properties of the material. The results of the study show that the lattice structure of the honeycomb material significantly affects the structural Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio. Additionally, the study includes the development of a numerical model that demonstrates good agreement between the experimental results and numerical predictions. This model can used to predict the tensile properties of honeycomb structures for different relative densities of the unit cell, providing a valuable tool for engineers and designers. Overall, this study findings could apply to various industrial sectors and highlights the potential of using bio-based materials and honeycomb structures for creating lightweight materials with specific mechanical and dynamic properties.