Publication Date
2018
Document Type
Thesis
Committee Members
Joy Gockel (Committee Member), Ahsan Mian (Advisor), Zifeng Yang (Committee Member)
Degree Name
Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME)
Abstract
This research focuses on the compression and tensile behavior of three-dimensional printed polymer lattice structures with different printing parameters such as build orientation, infill density, and layer thickness. The body-centered cubic (BCC) lattice unit cell, which has been extensively investigated for energy absorption applications, is considered here to create compression and tensile specimens. Special test fixture was designed and developed to perform the tensile tests. The specimens were printed using Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) polymer material on a Stratasys uPrint 3D printer. The printing parameters considered in this case are: (a) Three different build orientations (0, 45 and 90 degrees); (b) Two different infill densities (Sparse High and Solid); and (c)Two different layer thicknesses (0.010 and 0.013 inch). Once fabricated, the specimens were imaged using an optical microscope (OM) to capture their surface characteristics. Strut dimensions of all specimens are measured to understand their build accuracy. In addition, fabrication time for each configuration were recorded for comparison. The specimens were then tested under quasi-static compression and tension to determine the stiffness, failure loads, and energy absorption behaviors. Specific properties were also calculated by dividing the test properties by the specimen mass. All the test data obtained from OM and mechanical tests were then compared and interpreted with respect to all the three build parameters.
Page Count
101
Department or Program
Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering
Year Degree Awarded
2018
Copyright
Copyright 2018, all rights reserved. My ETD will be available under the "Fair Use" terms of copyright law.
