Out-of-plane load-bearing and mechanical energy absorption properties of flexible density-graded TPU honeycombs

• Honeycomb structures with various nominal densities are 3D printed from TPU. Strength, energy absorption, and strain recoverability of the characterized. Graded fabricated by stacking multiple density layers honeycombs. Density-graded possess superior load-bearing response at large deformations. widely used in applications that require excellent mitigation low structural weights. The absorption capacity honeycomb strongly depend on their cell wall thickness to edge ratios. This work studies mechanical characteristics hexagonal thicknesses out-of-plane loading conditions. first additively manufactured flexible thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). A comprehensive experimental study characterized strength, performance, structures. then Mechanical characterization density-graded points deformation From a perspective, graded shown outperform uniform counterparts small results obtained this highlight significance gradation as practical means for development highly tailorable, application-specific properties.