Launched in June 2018, the new inter-IRT LATTICES project aims to overcome the current technological obstacles related to the design and construction of lattices by metal additive manufacturing.
This project focuses in particular on developing tools for the simulation and modeling of the mechanical behavior of these structures using a multi-scale approach taking into account the singular properties of the material and the geometrical variabilities intrinsic to the manufacturing process. The objective is to provide the research departments with tools to assist in the design and sizing of robust lattices. It combines the subprojects “Durability of Lattice Structures” (DSL) of SystemX and LASER (LAttice Structures for Engines and Launchers) of Saint Exupéry.
Particularly popular in the aerospace industry, lattice structures produced in additive manufacturing – and more precisely by the powder-coated laser melting process – make it possible to lighten structures and integrate new functions. (fuel storage, heat exchangers, energy absorption, …). However, this elaboration process induces singular microstructures and introduces dispersions in the geometry of the elementary lattices (dimensional variability of the meshes, surface states, section of the beams, etc.) which are likely to alter the durability of the parts in service.
SystemX and Saint Exupéry IRTs combine their expertise in their respective DSL and LASER projects. These 24-month projects aim to study the impact of manufacturing process variability on the state of the material, the mechanical strength and the service life of the fabricated structure. This work will be carried out on lattices subjected to quasi-static mechanical stresses at ambient temperature. Ultimately, this experiment will develop a numerical simulation model of elasto-plastic behaviors of parts by model reduction. It will lead to the creation of a demonstrator offering tools to assist in the design and validation of lattices.
