Experimental and Simulation Investigation on Energy Absorption of Cu Casting Lattice Structure during Compression

This investigation aims to assess the mechanical behavior and energy absorption properties of the Cu lattice structures made by investment casting method experimentally and by finite element method (FEM) simulation. The casting pattern of lattice structures is additively manufactured with 2.0, 2.5, and 3.0 mm diameters and the lattice structures produced by investment casting of Cu. Then a uniaxial compression test is applied to measure maximum compressive strength, energy absorption density, efficiency, and specific energy absorption. The simulation and the experimental results indicate that the abovementioned properties of the lattice structures have a significant improvement and properties developments will rise by increasing the diameter of the struts. The mechanical characterization has done for Cu lattice structure with 3.0 mm strut diameter, which endures a stress of 242 MPa at the densification strain and the maximum tolerated stress of 404 MPa. The energy absorption density of this lattice structure is 67 MJ m⁻³ and has a specific energy absorption of 28 J g⁻¹ followed by an energy absorption efficiency around 70%. The simulation result shows a mathematical connection between the unit cells and the final lattice structures in terms of maximum tolerated stresses, which can help the prediction of the mechanical behavior of these structures.