Mechanical properties and energy-absorption capability of a 3D-printed TPMS sandwich lattice model for meta-functional composite bridge bearing applications

This paper reports on a proposed novel 3D-printed sandwich lattice model using a triply periodic minimal surface (TPMS) structure for meta-functional composite bridge bearings (MFCBBs). It could be implemented in bridge systems, including buildings and railway bridges. A TMPS structure offers a high performance to density ratio under different loading. Compared to typical elastomeric bridge bearings with any reinforcements, the use of 3D-printed TPMS sandwich lattices could potentially lead to a substantial reduction in both manufacturing cost and weight, but also to a significant increase in recyclability with their better mechanical properties (compressive, crushing, energy absorption, vibration, and sound attenuation). This paper shows predictions from a numerical study performed to examine the behaviour of a TPMS sandwich lattice model under two different loading conditions for bridge bearing applications. The validation of the modelling is compared with experimental results to ensure the possibility of designing and fabricating a 3D-printed TPMS sandwich lattice for practical use. In general, the compressive experimental and numerical load–displacement behaviour of the TPMS unit cell are in excellent agreement within the elastic limit region. Moreover, its failure mode for bridge bearing applications has been identified as an elastic–plastic and hysteretic failure behaviour under uniaxial compression and combined compression–shear loading, respectively.