By using modern additive manufacturing techniques, a structure at the millimeter length scale (macroscale) can be produced showing a lattice substructure of micrometer dimensions (microscale). Such a system is called a metamaterial at the macroscale, because its mechanical characteristics deviate from the characteristics at the microscale. Consequently, a metamaterial is modeled by using additional parameters. These we intend to determine. A homogenization approach based on asymptotic analysis establishes a connection between these different characteristics at micro- and macroscales. A linear elastic first-order theory at the microscale is related to a linear elastic second-order theory at the macroscale. Small strains (and, correspondingly, small gradients) are assumed at both scales. A relation for the parameters at the macroscale is derived by using the equivalence of energy at macro- and microscales within a so-called representative volume element (RVE). The determination of the parameters becomes possible by solving a boundary value problem within the framework of the finite element method. The proposed approach guarantees that the additional parameters vanish if the material is purely homogeneous; in other words, it is fully compatible with conventional homogenization schemes based on spatial averaging techniques. Moreover, the proposed approach is reliable, because it ensures that the obtained additional parameters are insensitive to choices of the RVE consisting of a repetition of smaller RVEs depending upon the intrinsic size of the structure.

Determination of metamaterial parameters by means of a homogenization approach based on asymptotic analysis

A nonlinear model for the dynamics of a Kirchhoff rod in the three-dimensional space is developed in the framework of a discrete elastic theory. The formulation avoids the use of Euler angles for t...

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A discrete formulation of Kirchhoff rods in large-motion dynamics:

A nonlinear elastic model for nets made up of two families of curved fibers is proposed. The net is planar prior to the deformation, but the equilibrium configuration that minimizes the total potential energy can be a surface in the three-dimensional space. This elastic surface accounts for the stretching, bending, and torsion of the constituent fibers regarded as a continuous distribution of Kirchhoff rods. A specific example of fiber arrangement, namely a cycloidal orthogonal pattern, is examined to illustrate the predictive abilities of the model and assess the limit of applicability of it. A numerical micro–macro-identification is performed with a model adopting a standard continuum deformable body at the level of scale of the fibers. A few finite element simulations are carried out for comparison purposes in statics and dynamics, performing modal analysis. Finally, a topology optimization problem has been carried out to change the macroscopic shear stiffness to enlarge the elastic regime and reduce the risk of damage without excessively losing bearing capacity.

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Lattice shells composed of two families of curved Kirchhoff rods: an archetypal example, topology optimization of a cycloidal metamaterial

A study about the impact of the topological arrangement of fibers on fiber-reinforced composites: Some guidelines aiming at the development of new ultra-stiff and ultra-soft metamaterials

The equilibrium forms of pantographic blocks in a three-point bending test are investigated via both experiments and numerical simulations. In the computational part, the corresponding minimization...

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Three-point bending test of pantographic blocks: numerical and experimental investigation:

Pantographic metamaterials are known for their ability to have large deformation while remaining in the elastic regime. We have performed a set of experiments on 3D printed pantographic unit cells to parametrically investigate their response when undergoing tensile, compression, and shear loading with the aim of i) studying the role of each parameter in the resultant mechanical behavior of the sample, and ii) providing a benchmark for the mathematical models developed to describe pantographic structures. Results show the existence of local extrema in the space of the geometrical parameters, suggesting the use of optimization techniques to find optimal geometrical parameters resulting in desired functionalities. We have also performed tensile relaxation tests on the samples, with the results indicating the complexity of the dynamic behavior and the existence of multiple relaxation characteristic times. Such results can be used to for calibrating mathematical models describing pantographic structures under dynamic loadings.

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M. De Angelo

Papers

Parametric Experimentation on Pantographic Unit Cells Reveals Local Extremum Configuration