Compressive mechanical properties and shape memory effect of NiTi gradient lattice structures fabricated by laser powder bed fusion

Laser additive manufacturing (AM) of lattice structures with light weight, excellent impact resistance, and energy absorption performance is receiving considerable attention in aerospace, transportation, and mechanical equipment application fields. In this study, we designed four gradient lattice structures (GLSs) using the topology optimization method, including the unidirectional GLS, the bi-directional increasing GLS, the bi-directional decreasing GLS and the none-GLS. All GLSs were manufactureed by laser powder bed fusion (LPBF). The uniaxial compression tests and finite element analysis were conducted to investigate the influence of gradient distribution features on deformation modes and energy absorption performance of GLSs. The results showed that, compared with the 45° shear fracture characteristic of the none-GLS, the unidirectional GLS, the bi-directional increasing GLS and the bi-directional decreasing GLS had the characteristics of the layer-by-layer fracture, showing considerably improved energy absorption capacity. The bi-directional increasing GLS showed a unique combination of shear fracture and layer-by-layer fracture, having the optimal energy absorption performance with energy absorption and specific energy absorption of 235.6 J and 9.5 J g-1 at 0.5 strain, respectively. Combined with the shape memory effect of NiTi alloy, multiple compression-heat recovery experiments were carried out to verify the shape memory function of LPBF-processed NiTi GLSs. These findings have potential value for the future design of GLSs and the realization of shape memory function of NiTi components through laser AM.

Multiple super-resolution imaging in the second band of gradient lattice spacing photonic crystal flat lens

Based on the triangular lattice two-dimensional photonic crystal(PC), the lattice spacing along the transverse direction to propagation is altered, and a gradient PC(GPC) flat lens is designed. The band structures and equal frequency curves of the GPC are calculated;then, the imaging mechanism and feasibility are analyzed. The imaging characteristics of the GPC flat lens are investigated. It is observed that the GPC can achieve multiple types of super-resolution imaging for the point source. This GPC lens is allowed to be applied to imaging and other fields such as filtering and sensing.

Compressive properties and energy absorption of BCC lattice structures with bio-inspired gradient design

Inspired by the gradient structure of the nature,two gradient lattice structures,i.e.,unidirectional gradient lattice(UGL)and bidirectional gradient lattice(BGL),are proposed based on the body-centered cubic(BCC)lattice to obtain specially designed mechanical behaviors,such as load-bearing and energy absorption capacities.First,a theoretical model is proposed to predict the initial stiffness of the gradient lattice structure under compressive loading,and validated against quasi-static compression tests and finite element models(FEMs).The deformation and failure mechanisms of the two structures are further studied based on experiments and simulations.The UGL structure exhibits a layer-by-layer failure mode,which avoids structure-wise shear failure in uniform structures.The BGL structure presents a symmetry deformation pattern,and the failure initiates at the weakest part.Finally,the energy absorption behaviors are also discussed.This study demonstrates the potential application of gradient lattice structures in load-transfer-path modification and energy absorption by topology design.

Multi-scale Modeling of the Ionic Diffusivity of Cement-based Materials

A new multiscale numerical approach was presented to predict the ionic diffusivity of cement based materials,which incorporated the lattice Boltzmann method,the conjugate gradient method,and the random walk method.In particular,the lattice Boltzmann method was applied to model the ionic diffusion in pore space of cement paste,while the upscaling of effective ionic diffusivity from cement paste（mortar） to concrete was processed by means of the conjugate gradient method and the random walk method.A case study was then presented,i e,the chloride diffusivity of concrete affected by sand content and gravel content.It is shown that the results of numerical prediction agree well with those of experimental measurements adopted from literatures.The multiscale numerical approach provides a prior assessment of ionic diffusivity for cement based materials from a microstructural basis.