Failure analysis of 3D printed glass fiber/PA12 composite lattice structures using DIC

In this paper, the mechanical properties and failure modes of 3D printed fiber-reinforced polyamide 12 (PA12) composite lattice structures were studied using digital image correlation (DIC). First, the fiber-reinforced PA12 composite tensile samples and lattice structures were prepared by selective laser sintering (SLS). Then the tensile experiments were carried out on the tensile samples, and the tensile strength and elastic modulus were obtained. Moreover, the compressive experiments were carried out on the 3D printed PA12 composite lattice structures. The full field displacements and strains were obtained using DIC, and the failure position and failure mode can be captured from the strain fields. The repetitive energy absorption property of the lattice structures was comparative analyzed between the 3D printed PA12 composite lattice structures with and without fiber-reinforcements. The experimental results show that the tensile strength and elastic modulus of the 3D printed PA12 composites with fiber-reinforcements are higher than that without fiber-reinforcements. The compressive strength of the 3D printed PA12 composite lattice structures with fiber-reinforcements are lower than that without fiber-reinforcements, but the repetitive energy absorption property of the 3D printed PA12 composites lattice structures with fiber-reinforcements are more stable than that without fiber-reinforcements.