Effect and optimization of mechanical properties of selected laser melting arch lattice

To enhance the mechanical properties of the lattice structure formed by selective laser melting under the premise of lightweight, the arch feature was incorporated into the lattice structure design. Considering the combined effects of various structural parameters, a mathematical relationship model of arch height-to-span ratio, strut diameter and cell height with lattice elastic modulus and compressive strength was established by response surface test. The impact of these structural parameters on the elastic modulus and compressive strength was analyzed and an optimal combination of parameters was determined. The findings reveal that the arch height-to-span ratio has the most significant influence on the elastic modulus and compressive strength of the structure. As the arch height-to-span ratio increases, both the elastic modulus and compressive strength of the structure demonstrate notable improvements. The optimal structural parameter combination of the arch lattice structure obtained by optimization is the arch height-to-span of 0.7, strut diameter of 1.2 mm and cell height of 4.5 mm. The corresponding elastic modulus is measured at 2.012 GPa, while the compressive strength reaches 79.254 MPa. These values represent a respective increase of 21.57% and 35.60% compared to the non-optimized configuration. The mechanical properties of the structure have been significantly enhanced. This research can provide references for the design and optimization of lightweight lattice structures.