Investigation of mechanical properties of composite skeleton casting

Designers and engineers are looking for novel structural materials for advanced application. Combination of features that allows for multi-functionality of material is nowadays required. This article shows skeleton casting case as a particular approach to continuous, spatial composite reinforcement. The purpose of the article is to show selected results of research in a field of new type of cast spatial composite reinforcements. The research is concerning properties of cast spatial micro-lattice structures called skeleton casting. In this paper results of impact test of skeleton casting with octahedron elementary cell were shown. The selection of internal topology of skeleton casting was based on numerical simulations of stress distribution. With use of computer tomography, analysis of deformation mechanisms was carried out. Different levels of impact energies were used. This analysis was carried out in purpose to create adequate numerical model of skeleton casting for further optimization. The possibility of manufacturing of geometrically complex skeleton castings without use of advanced techniques was confirmed. Not fully utilized rheological properties of liquid alloys allow production of elements similar to metallic foams but with periodic structure. Spatial skeleton casting with octahedron elementary cell confirmed their usefulness as impact energy absorbers.