Additive manufacturing of hexagonal lattice structures: tensile tests and validation

In this paper, different hexagonal lattice structures of the tensile test specimens were designed, manufactured by additive manufacturing, and tested in three different lengths. Moreover, flat shape tensile test specimens were designed without lattice structure. Mechanical behaviors were obtained using a tensile testing machine and analyzed at a finite element program. Effect of lattice shape and infill density on mechanical behavior was investigated. Results were compared with finite element analysis to validate the simulation. Main objective of this paper is to investigate the tensile test properties of polylactic acid (PLA) test specimens with different hexagonal-shaped lattice structures and verify their finite element model. It is concluded that increasing hexagonal lattice size increases ductility up to certain degree. Elastic modulus of 15% and 100% infill density specimens was nearly same at lattice region.