Energy-absorption performance of M300 chiral topologies under quasi-static and blast-induced compression

This study evaluates the energy absorption of high-strength M300 maraging steel chiral cellular lattices, fabricated via selective laser melting, for blast-protection systems. Thin-walled (0.15 mm) hexachiral (HX) structures were tested under quasi-static (QS) compression and blast-induced dynamic loading using an explosive-driven shock tube (EDST). Experimental data validated an LS-DYNA numerical model employing a Tabulated Johnson-Cook constitutive relation calibrated via split Hopkinson pressure bar tests. Discrepancies between numerical and experimental quantitative parameters remained below 8%, with HX energy absorption matching within + 1.3% (QS) and −7.9% (blast). The validated model assessed five additional topologies—trichiral (TRC), tetrachiral (TC), anti-tetrachiral (AT), hybrid (HCC), and re-entrant chiral auxetic (RCA)—to compare deformation mechanisms. Results show HX maintains a stable, rotation-dominated collapse across regimes, yielding superior plateau stress and specific energy absorption (SEA) of 686.0 J/kg (QS) and 660.0 J/kg (EDST). Conversely, transient blast loading significantly altered the performance of other geometries: RCA can be highly competitive demonstrating a 42% increase in energy absorption (34.12 J to 48.33 J) and a strong negative Poisson’s ratio (-1.08), whereas AT energy absorption decreased by nearly 50% (49.35 J to 24.83 J). The study confirms that additively manufactured M300 chiral structures possess significant potential for modern protective systems, offering an efficient means of mitigating high-intensity blast energy.