Study introduces framework to understand new class of curved lattice materials

Family of curved 2D lattices conceived and analysed in the study (a) The curved hexagonal lattice, (b) The curved hexagonal auxetic lattice, (c) The curved rhombus lattice, and (d) The curved rectangular lattice.
Credit: S. Mukherjee

A new study from Swansea University has introduced a framework to calculate the material properties of a new class of two-dimensional curved hexagonal lattices that could be used in the production of improved mechanical metamaterials found in bio-engineering, stretchable electronics, impact absorption and soft robots.

The research published in the Composite Structures journal, outlines how the research team from the university’s Faculty of Science and Engineering pioneered the new framework of calculations, known as generalised closed-form expressions.

Dr Shuvajit Mukherjee who co-authored the study said: “This paper represents fundamental analytical approaches to obtain the most general closed-form expressions of the equivalent material properties of 2D hexagonal lattices. This work captures a large class of geometry. Introduction of the curved beam as constituent beam members of the unit cell of the lattice enrich the design space and enhance the flexibility of the structure.”

Co-author, Professor Sondipon Adhikari said: “The introduction of a curved beam element in the unit cell results in increasing the flexibility of the lattice and it also expands the design space for lattice materials. The closed-form expression can be utilised as a benchmark solution for future numerical and experimental investigations. It also can be exploited to obtain user-defined mechanical properties.”

Journal: Composite Structures
DOI: 10.1016/j.compstruct.2021.114859
Article Title: The in-plane mechanics of a family of curved 2D lattices
Article Publication Date: 3-Nov-2021

Media Contact

Delyth Purchase
Swansea University
d.purchase@swansea.ac.uk

Media Contact

Delyth Purchase
Swansea University

All latest news from the category: Studies and Analyses

innovations-report maintains a wealth of in-depth studies and analyses from a variety of subject areas including business and finance, medicine and pharmacology, ecology and the environment, energy, communications and media, transportation, work, family and leisure.

Back to home

Comments (0)

Write a comment

Newest articles

NASA: Mystery of life’s handedness deepens

The mystery of why life uses molecules with specific orientations has deepened with a NASA-funded discovery that RNA — a key molecule thought to have potentially held the instructions for…

What are the effects of historic lithium mining on water quality?

Study reveals low levels of common contaminants but high levels of other elements in waters associated with an abandoned lithium mine. Lithium ore and mining waste from a historic lithium…

Quantum-inspired design boosts efficiency of heat-to-electricity conversion

Rice engineers take unconventional route to improving thermophotovoltaic systems. Researchers at Rice University have found a new way to improve a key element of thermophotovoltaic (TPV) systems, which convert heat…