Experimental and numerical study on the compressive behavior of 3D-printed bionic sandwich plates

Abstract

Biological structures in nature often achieve an exceptional combination of low weight, high strength, and efficient energy absorption through synergistic geometric design, demonstrating significant potential for protective and energy-absorbing applications. In this study, eight types of bionic sandwich plates are fabricated and compared, and in-plane quasi-static compression tests combined with finite element analysis are performed under identical geometric and material conditions. The load-displacement response, peak force, stiffness, energy absorption, and deformation modes of each configuration are systematically evaluated, and the underlying compression mechanisms are elucidated. The results show that the structures can be classified into two categories: “peak-type” and “plateau-type”. “Peak-type” structures exhibit superior peak force and stiffness, whereas “plateau-type” structures demonstrate enhanced energy absorption, revealing a fundamental trade-off between load-bearing capacity and energy absorption. Structural topology governs the mechanical performance of sandwich structures by regulating stress distribution, instability paths, and deformation modes. Among the configurations, the Trichiral Honeycomb Plate (THP) achieves efficient stress redistribution through a coupled mechanism of node rotation and cell-wall buckling, resulting in an excellent balance between peak force, stiffness, and energy absorption. These findings provide useful insights for the design and optimization of high-performance bionic sandwich structures, with potential applications in protective systems, aerospace engineering, and energy-absorbing devices.