Investigating the in-plane properties of the semi-regular square-triangle lattice

Abstract

The in-plane properties of the Semi-Regular Square-Triangle lattice structure (SST) were investigated under axial and shear load scenarios. The importance of this study was focused on the variation of the in-plane mechanical properties of the lattice as a function of the relative density increments between 0.001 and 0.2. Finite element analysis (FEA) and analytical modelling methods were used to obtain reliable results for the in-plane mechanical properties of the tessellation, including elastic modulus, shear modulus, compressive strength and shear strength. Therefore, these outcomes have been compared with the results obtained for other known stretching dominated lattices. The results of the comparison between FEA and analytical modelling methods showed that they were in good agreement and closely matched, indicating that these are very powerful techniques to study the in-plane mechanical properties of the lattice. The results of the study revealed that the lattice had the lowest stiffness compared to other known lattice structures. In addition, the SST lattice had a higher elastic buckling strength characteristics than the square, triangular and mixed cells and the lowest plastic compressive yielding strength compared to others. In relation to the effective shear modulus, the lattice was found to be superior to the mixed and square lattice topologies. In relation to the aspect of plastic shear yielding strength the lattice was superior to the square and mixed cells, inferior to those of the kagome and triangular lattice topologies.