Modelling Tensile Deformation and Fracture Path of Selective Laser Sintered Nylon12 Lattice Structures

Lattice structures fabricated by additive manufacturing such as selective laser sintering (SLS) are promising candidates for lightweight design in aerospace applications due to their superior characteristics such as low density, high specific strength, and specific stiffness, etc. This paper reports an experimental and numerical study on the tensile behaviour of cellular lattices. Nylon 12 lattice specimens, modelled by repeating open-form unit cells consisting of hexagonal prisms, cubic prisms, and triangular prisms are printed via SLS. A finite element (FE) modelling methodology is developed to evaluate the tensile elastic-plastic and fracture behaviour of the lattice specimens. The predicted load-displacement curves and fracture paths are compared to the corresponding experimental results, and the feasibility and capability of the FE model developed is examined.