3D printing technologies provide unprecedented design flexibility for fabricating cellular materials with geometrically intricate topologies unattainable through conventional manufacturing. These 3D-printed cellular structures have emerged as promising candidates for impact mitigation, energy dissipation, and protective systems due to their superior mechanical properties. This review synthesises recent advancements in the compression response and energy absorption mechanisms of 3D-printed cellular structures, with particular emphasis on elucidating the synergistic interrelationships among material selection, fabrication methods, and topological configurations governing resultant mechanical performance. The review examines the implementation of various 3D printing techniques in cellular structure fabrication and critically investigates the influence of diverse geometric configurations (including honeycomb-like architectures, foam structures, negative Poisson’s ratio designs, tubular configurations, and special shaped structures) on mechanical response characteristics. Furthermore, the work identifies emerging developmental trends and persistent challenges across materials science, fabrication technology, and functionalization domains. This systematic analysis provides valuable theoretical guidance for the design optimisation and practical implementation of 3D-printed cellular structures across various engineering applications.
Wang et al. (Tue,) studied this question.