Compressive behavior of hollow triply periodic minimal surface cellular structures manufactured by selective laser melting

Purpose This study aims to explore the compressive behavior of hollow triply periodic minimal surface (HTPMS) cellular structures by selective laser melting (SLM). Design/methodology/approach This study presents a design method for gyroid hollow triply periodic minimal surfaces (G-HTPMS) and primitive hollow triply periodic minimal surfaces (P-HTPMS) cellular structures, and SLM technology was applied to manufacture these cellular structures. Compressive behaviors and energy absorption behaviors of hollow cellular structures were researched in this study. Findings Compared with normal gyroid triply periodic minimal surfaces (G-TPMS) and normal primitive triply periodic minimal surfaces (P-TPMS), the G-HTPMS and P-HTPMS have higher elastic modulus, plateau stress and effective energy absorption under uniaxial compression. The hollow design in HTPMS can enhance the mechanical properties and energy absorption of the cellular structure. Finite element analysis also demonstrates that the hollow design can reduce stress concentration, which improved the compressive curves from a severely fluctuating state to a relatively flat state and reduces fracture. According to compressive behaviors, G-TPMS and G-HTPMS are the bending-dominated cellular structures with strain hardening characteristics, and P-TPMS and P-HTPMS are the stretching-dominated cellular structures with strain softening characteristics. Originality/value This research provided a design method for HTPMS, and it was proved that the mechanical properties increased by hollow design inspired by bamboo.