Current research status on advanced lattice structures for impact and energy absorption applications: A systematic review
Zhao Yu, Roman Savinov, Max Matura, Peize Zhang, Jing Shi
Abstract
Lattice structures are becoming widely recognized for their potential in energy absorption and impact applications. They are often the preferred choice for high-strain-rate events due to their capability to even out peak stress and distribute it until densification. This comprehensive and systematic review provides an in-depth analysis of the recent developments in lattice structures that are specifically designed for such applications. In this review, the lattice structures are first categorized based on unit cell topology, which leads to a comprehensive overview of 2D, 3D, hybrid, and gradient lattice structures developed for energy absorption. Thereafter, the performances of those lattice structures are summarized and compared. Besides the conventional 2D and 3D lattice structures, much of the focus is on novel structures such as bio-inspired, triply periodic minimum surfaces (TPMS), Voronoi and Delaunay structures. Also, the effectiveness of both experimental and computational methods for evaluating energy absorption is assessed, and the primary factors that influence impact behaviors are thoroughly investigated. Despite these insights, major challenges remain in optimizing material selection, refining design processes, and achieving manufacturing precision. Therefore, this review critically evaluates the barriers and proposes actionable mitigation strategies, and explores future research directions, including machine learning-driven optimization and hierarchical structuring. It is believed that this review can shed light on future advancement of next-generation lattice structures that possess both economic viability and high performance.