ADDITIVELY MANUFACTURED LATTICE CORE FOR ENERGY ABSORBERS ADAPTABLE TO DIFFERENT IMPACT LOAD CASES.

摘要

An energy absorber including a cover defining a cavity and a lattice core. The lattice core includes rod-shaped links having first and second ends connected at spaced nodes to form a three-dimensional structure disposed inside the cavity. The lattice core includes a first portion and a second portion that has a higher density than the first portion. The second portion is arranged behind the first portion relative to an expected direction of an impact with an object that initially contacts the cover in front of the first portion. A third portion may be arranged behind the second portion relative to the expected direction of an impact that has a higher density than the second portion. The first core may be a three-dimensional body having a negative Poisson's Ratio. The lattice core may be formed by an additive printing process.