Parametric optimization of cellular materials through LS-OPT

Cellular materials, characterized by a repetitive pattern of unit cells, feature many advantages with respect to conventional monolithic materials, that make them especially desirable for structural and energy absorption applications. First of all, the intrinsic cellular architecture, characterized usually by an interconnected network of solid struts and sheets results in a lightweight material [1], which at the same time is able also to dissipate large amounts of energy through the deformation of plastic hinges and local buckling phenomena [2], achieving a superior structural efficiency. Moreover, some recently developed geometries allowed to achieve highly desirable and unprecedented structural properties, such as negative Poisson’s ratio, bistability, or recoverable deformation.