The Construction of Conforming-to-shape Truss Lattice Structures via 3D Sphere Packing

Shape morphing hinged truss structures

Truss structures are widely used for the support of structural loads in applications where minimum mass solutions are required. Their nodes are normally constructed to resist rotation to maximize their stiffness under load. A multi-link node concept has recently been proposed that permits independent rotation of tetrahedral trusses linked by such a joint. High authority shape morphing truss str...

From Sphere Packing to the Theory of Optimal Lattice Sampling

In this paper we introduce reconstruction kernels for the 3D optimal sampling lattice and demonstrate a practical realisation of a few. First, we review fundamentals of multidimensional sampling theory. We derive the optimal regular sampling lattice in 3D, namely the Body Centered Cubic (BCC) lattice, based on a spectral sphere packing argument. With the introduction of this sampling lattice, w...

Sphere Packing for Regularisation of Lattice Domes

The paper provides a methodology for finding a family of patterns for lattice domes, created based on the “Surface Sphere Packing” concept. The patterns have a high degree of regularity in the sense of a high percentage of the elements being of the same length. Also, parametric formulation for generating such patterns are discussed. This gives an opportunity for creating more regular patterns w...

Hybrid carbon fiber composite lattice truss structures

Lattice truss structures from expanded metal sheet

Metallic lattice truss structures are usually made by perforating a metal sheet with a periodic diamond pattern followed by folding at node rows to create a plate of 3D interconnected trusses. For low relative density lattices, the initial sheet material is inefficiently utilized, and the node area is small raising concerns about node bond robustness under shear or tensile loading. Here, we exp...