Investigation of vibration damping behavior of polymer lattice structures produced by additive manufacturing

This study presents research on the production of beam-shaped samples with honeycomb fillings, where the external dimensions are equal, but parameters such as wall thickness, honeycomb cell edge length, and filling density vary. These samples were manufactured using the additive manufacturing method with PLA material. The study aims to examine in detail the vibration behavior of these samples triggered by impact. The experimental analysis was performed through a hammer impact test, and the damping ratios of the samples made with PLA filament were determined. Subsequently, the samples were modeled using the finite element method, followed by modal analysis and harmonic analysis. This process allowed for the determination of the resonance frequencies and collapse values of the honeycomb-filled beam samples. A comparison of the experimental and numerical analyses revealed that the results were consistent and mutually supportive. Additionally, comparisons were made between the vibration characteristics of SLA and FDM manufacturing methods, and the effect of the curing process, the final step in SLA manufacturing, was also addressed in the study. It was found that the parameters of lattice structures, such as filling density, wall thickness, and edge length, directly influence their vibration behavior. Specifically, samples with higher filling densities exhibited better damping, although this was accompanied by an increase in weight. When comparing the numerical analyses with the experimental results, it was observed that the finite element method (FEM) showed a high degree of agreement with the experimental findings. It was also determined that the honeycomb-filled samples had better damping properties compared to silicone-filled samples.