Cell Size Effects in Additively Manufactured Porous Titanium Consisting of Ordered Rhombic Dodecahedron Cells

Abstract

Lightweight porous metals have been focused on as structural and energy absorbing materials. Mechanical properties of classical porous metals fall under the specific specimen dimension. Such cell size effects are mainly caused by the disordered cells. The present study experimentally evaluates the cell size effects of additively manufactured porous metals consisting of ordered cells. Different sized porous titanium specimens consisting of ordered rhombic dodecahedron cells are manufactured through electron beam melting process. Mechanical properties are determined by quasi-static compression tests. The plateau stress and the energy absorption are almost independent of the specimen dimension divided by the cell diameter. Experimental results conclude that the cell size effects are suppressed in additively manufactured porous metals consisting of well-defined ordered cells.

Plateau stress and energy absorption of additively manufactured porous titanium are plotted as a function of specimen dimension divided by cell diameter.