Work

Theoretical Investigation of Stiffness and Vibration Frequency Enhancement in Novel Membrane-Wrapped Lattice Beams

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Bending-dominated lattice structures offer superior stability but suffer from low stiffness and natural frequencies, posing resonance risks in aerospace applications. To address this, a novel Membrane-Wrapped Lattice (MWL) encapsulated by a micrometer-scale metallic film is proposed. A theoretical framework based on the tension-compression asymmetry of the membrane is established to analyze the influence of membrane thickness on the neutral axis shift, ultimately deriving analytical formulations for flexural stiffness and natural frequencies. MWL specimens with varying membrane thicknesses (0-50 μm) were fabricated via selective laser melting and adhesive bonding, then subjected to three-point bending and vibration tests. Results demonstrate that wrapping with a 50 μm 316 L stainless steel membrane increases the flexural stiffness by 128% and the fundamental natural frequency by 85%. The experimental measurements align well with theoretical and numerical predictions, validating this lightweight, high-stiffness design strategy.

Source: Materials

DOI: 10.3390/ma19061247

Authors: Peiyao Xi, Hao Zhou, Canghai Tan, Chuang Shi, Rongqiang Liu, Jianzhong Yang

Institutions: Harbin Institute of Technology, China Academy of Space Technology, Institute of Spacecraft System Engineering

Language: English

Topic: Cellular and Composite Structures

Subfield: Mechanical Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,137

Funders: National Natural Science Foundation of China, Ministry of Science and Technology of the People's Republic of China