Performance of bio-inspired Kagome truss core structures under compression and shear loading

Additive manufacture of titanium structures allows the realisation of advanced design strategies not achievable through traditional manufacturing methods. This work analyses the performance of Ti-6Al-4V Kagome truss core structures produced by selective laser melting (SLM) for composite sandwich structures. These bio-inspired core structures can be manufactured for truss diameters larger than 0.6mm and internal truss angles of less than 60° without requiring additional support structures. Mechanical testing is conducted to determine the deformation and failure of the core structure in compression and shear. A finite element model validates the structural performance and can further optimise the unit cell design. Design charts show that the performance of the proposed titanium core in both compression and shear is superior (strength) or equal (stiffness) to honeycomb cores for aerospace applications.