Energy absorption and Deformation Behavior of Embedded Triply Periodic Minimal Surface with Various Materials

Porous triply periodic minimal surface (TPMS) structures exhibit great potential for impact resistance applications. However, current research faces two main challenges. First, the design flexibility of single-sheet TPMS structures is limited, primarily affecting the core pore regions. Second, the influence of material properties on performance optimization has not been fully explored. This study introduces a hierarchical hybrid-embedding approach for two-sheet TPMS structures, embedding IWP substructures with customized relative densities into both the sandwich and core pores of a two-sheet P surface. We analyze the effects of material properties, specifically photosensitive resin, 316L stainless steel, and aluminum alloy, on structural performance. Experimental results reveal a clear correlation between material characteristics and energy absorption mechanisms. The two-sheet embedded TPMS structures made from brittle materials, such as photosensitive resin and aluminum alloy, show significantly improved energy dissipation through fracture-induced deformation. Specifically, photosensitive resin exhibits a 700% increase in yield stress and a 1326% improvement in energy absorption, while aluminum alloy shows a 28.4% and 87.9% improvement, respectively. In contrast, 316L stainless steel, which relies on plastic deformation for energy dissipation, shows only modest improvements of 13.4% in yield stress and 3.2% in energy absorption. These findings not only demonstrate the enhanced impact resistance of the two-sheet embedded TPMS design but also highlight the critical role of material properties in optimizing topological structures. This research provides valuable insights for impact-resistant structural design, with practical applications in aerospace, civil infrastructure, and advanced manufacturing.