Parametric Design and Evaluation of Tpms-Like Cellular Solids

Triply periodic minimal surfaces (TPMS) present a starting point for designing infinitely many novel cellular solids, creating the need for a structured approach to their design and evaluation. In this study the design space is formalised using a set of inputs. Additionally, a set of computationally inexpensive methods for analysing cellular solids are presented and applied in a full factorial design of experiments, defining interactions between the design parameters and a set of metrics that indicate the performance of a resulting design. Individual interactions are also explored in depth, to give a more complete understanding of how the input parameters can be manipulated to reach a more optimal design. These computational experiments are supported by a physical case study, which demonstrates how the manufacturability of a structure can be predicted and altered using the input design parameters