3D printed carbon-fibre reinforced composite lattice structures with good thermal-dimensional stability
File(s)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Chen, Yuan
Ye, Lin
Kinloch, Anthony
Zhang YX
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
A good dimensional stability is a crucial property of any base-platform structure for the attachment of high
precision optical or mechanical devices, such as imaging equipment, satellite antennas, thermal sensors, etc.,
where the surrounding temperature may fluctuate substantially. The present study demonstrates how such a
base-platform in a form of a dual-composite, planar-lattice structure can be designed and rapidly, and
conveniently, manufactured using 3D printing via fused filament fabrication (FFF). Specifically, the planarlattice consists of a central cross-lattice manufactured using a continuous carbon-fibre reinforced polyamide
(CCF/PA) composite with four interlocking outer-strips manufactured using a short carbon-fibre reinforced
polyamide (SCF/PA) composite. Numerical finite-element analyses of the planar-lattices are developed, and
validated by experimental results, with respect to their thermal-deformation behaviour. This numerical
analysis is then used to study the effects of various types of fibre architecture for the composites that might be
used to manufacture the planar-lattice. The results demonstrate, for the first time, the ability of 3D printing,
using FFF, to manufacture base-platform structures which use dual-composite materials, based upon carbonfibre reinforced polyamide materials, in order to achieve a very good thermal-dimensional stability.
precision optical or mechanical devices, such as imaging equipment, satellite antennas, thermal sensors, etc.,
where the surrounding temperature may fluctuate substantially. The present study demonstrates how such a
base-platform in a form of a dual-composite, planar-lattice structure can be designed and rapidly, and
conveniently, manufactured using 3D printing via fused filament fabrication (FFF). Specifically, the planarlattice consists of a central cross-lattice manufactured using a continuous carbon-fibre reinforced polyamide
(CCF/PA) composite with four interlocking outer-strips manufactured using a short carbon-fibre reinforced
polyamide (SCF/PA) composite. Numerical finite-element analyses of the planar-lattices are developed, and
validated by experimental results, with respect to their thermal-deformation behaviour. This numerical
analysis is then used to study the effects of various types of fibre architecture for the composites that might be
used to manufacture the planar-lattice. The results demonstrate, for the first time, the ability of 3D printing,
using FFF, to manufacture base-platform structures which use dual-composite materials, based upon carbonfibre reinforced polyamide materials, in order to achieve a very good thermal-dimensional stability.
Date Issued
2022-08-18
Date Acceptance
2022-06-19
Citation
Composites Science and Technology, 2022, 227
ISSN
0266-3538
Publisher
Elsevier
Journal / Book Title
Composites Science and Technology
Volume
227
Copyright Statement
© Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. This manuscript is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International Licence http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
Identifier
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0266353822003414?via%3Dihub
Subjects
Science & Technology
Technology
Materials Science, Composites
Materials Science
Thermal -dimensional stable structures
3D printing
CF
PA composites
Finite -element analysis
Coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE)
Fused filament fabrication (FFF)
EXPANSION
DESIGN
Materials
09 Engineering
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
ARTN 109599
Date Publish Online
2022-06-25