Hybrid truss concepts for carbon fiber composite pyramidal lattice structures

A novel hybrid truss construction concept is presented that incorporates a second-phase core material into trusses of carbon fiber (CF) composite pyramidal lattice (CPL) structures. Embedded core materials of wood and silicone rubber are selected for trial structures. Hybrid CPL structures were fabricated using a hot press molding approach and out-of-plane compression tests were performed to investigate properties. For prototype wood–core truss CPL, structural efficiencies increased comparing with solid truss CPL, while energy absorption capability was enhanced for rubber–core truss CPL. Employing the hybrid truss construction, the density-specific performance space of CF composite lattice structures can be expanded, and desired functional potential can be realized by judicious selection of core materials while simultaneously retaining structural properties.