A Literature Review on Finite Element Analysis of Flexural Behaviour

This literature review focuses on the application of finite element analysis (FEA) in understanding and optimizing the flexural behavior of various structures, particularly rectangular beam-type 3D lattice structures. It examines different approaches, including the use of Creo software for design and FEA for optimization, highlighting the significance of additive manufacturing techniques like selective laser sintering. The review synthesizes findings from multiple studies, emphasizing the importance of incorporating geometric features, material properties, and design limitations to achieve enhanced flexural strength and performance. The reviewed articles provide insights into modeling techniques, software applications like ANSYS, and experimental validations, ultimately aiming to inform the design of 3D lattice structures with high flexural stress resistance. This review is intended to help design rectangular beam type 3D lattice structures using Creo software and perform a FEA for optimization purposes.

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FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS OF FLEXURAL BEHAVIOUR
Name of student
Course
Instructor
Institution filiation
Location
Date

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Arrieta, E., Mireles, J., Stewart, C., Carrasco, C. and Wicker, R., 2018. FINITE
ELEMENT MODELING OF METAL LATTICES USING COMMERCIAL FEA
PLATFORMS.
The author’s highlights that application of the geometrical features in standard solids
generates cellular materials with unique performance. They claim that despite the importance of
the introduced geometric elements, the existing software can barely handle metals leading to
inaccuracies (Arrieta et al., 2018). Also, the authors report on ongoing work on how the
modeling of lattice structures from the beginning to the last stage as well as its significance. The
study, however, does not propose to us a solution that is viable in terms of the appropriate
software that can be applied so that the errors can be minimized or eliminated. Nonetheless, we
find that this literature is of significance as it gives us the insight that there is a need to
incorporate geometric features into the standard solids if we intend to come up with
performance-oriented cellular materials.
Azman, A.H., 2017. Method for the integration of lattice structures in design for additive
manufacturing (Doctoral dissertation, Université Grenoble Alpes).
The author presents an overview of additive manufacturing and its advantages in metallic
manufacturing of lattice structures. Also, the benefits associated with lattice structures, for
instance, manufacture of high strength low mass are discussed. However, the writer is keen to
note that, the lattice structures are not widely applied, and blames it on lack of new strategies,
despite new manufacturing technologies. He highlight an instance of the CAD tools whereby
they are not designed with the right additive manufacturing, making it difficult for the designers
to integrate desired technologies correctly (Azman, 2017). Hence, he delves into determining
why lattice structure design is not widely applied.

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The findings indicate that there is a lack of evaluation of current CAD tools in various
aspects. The author provide comprehensive information on the use of cad as a software for the
design of lattice structures, and importance of lattice structure in additive manufacturing,
however, it offers minimal information on the other software’s that would act as alternative to
CAD tools are associated with various bottlenecks. This implies in-depth research needs to be
done on different software’s. This research is significant in building the lattice structures and
additive manufacturing aspect of the design of beam-type 3D lattice structures
Gopsill, J.A., Shindler, J., and Hicks, B.J., 2018. Using finite element analysis to influence
the infill design of fused deposition modeled parts. Progress in Additive
Manufacturing, 3(3), pp.145-163.
The writers highlight that the application of additive manufacturing is gaining fame day
by day, as its uses are widely adopted in various platforms. They attribute its widespread to vast
freedom that it has, allowing for the design of both the internal and external structure of the
fabricated parts, which promotes for the optimization of the mechanical parts and increasing the
performance. Besides, they give a proposal for a method that is the best suitable for modeling
infill structure of fused deposition modeled components- finite element analysis (Gopsill et al.,
2018). Moreover, the authors conclude on the note that it is possible to achieve three and a half
times enhanced in the strength with consistent failure modes when finite element analysis
technique is used. Their work present detailed information in regards to the proposed finite
element analysis, which can significantly be of significance to the design of different types of
rectangular beam type 3D lattice structures.

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Helou, M., and Kara, S., 2018. Design, analysis, and manufacturing of lattice structures: an
overview. International Journal of Computer Integrated Manufacturing, 31(3),
pp.243-261.
Helou & Kara, gives an overview of the structure of a lattice, noting that they have been
significant in emerging as solutions to reduced advanced manufacturing time, energy, and weight
(2018). They generally narrows down to provide a systematic review of the existing literature on
the lattice structure for purposes of determining the existing information as well as current
trends. Finally, the author’s gives a compilation of the various limitations for future research.
The work of Helou & Kara (2018) is significant as it offers a window for further research by
giving a well-defined background layout of the lattice structures. Design failures come as a
result of lack of in-cooperation of all the design limitations, and with this limitations already
present, it will be of great help in the design of the rectangular beam type 3D lattice structures
Nguyen, J., Park, S.I., Rosen, D.W., Folgar, L., and Williams, J., 2012. Conformal lattice
structure design and fabrication. In Solid Freeform Fabrication Symposium (SFF),
Austin, TX, Aug (pp. 6-8).
Nguyen et al., (2012) give an overview of additive manufacturing technologies,
narrowing down to conformal lattice structures, which is a customized fabricated lightweight
material with a cellular type structure. They further present’s two approaches for the design of
the conformal lattice structures: using CAD and use of heuristic multivariate optimization
approach known as augmented size matching and scaling (SMS) method (Nguyen et al., 2012).
The results obtained demonstrate that augmented size matching and scaling (SMS) method when
effectively applied results into optimized stiffness, as well as optimized volumes of complex

Finite Element Analysis Of Flexural Behaviour5
structures. The literature has elaborated the use of the two approaches, which is significant in the
design of 3D lattice structures, considering the various aspects developed therein.
Niu, J., Choo, H.L., and Sun, W., 2017. Finite element analysis and experimental study of
plastic lattice structures manufactured by selective laser sintering. Proceedings of
the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part L: Journal of Materials: Design and
Applications, 231(1-2), pp.171-178.
Niu et al., (2017) highlight that selective laser sintering process, an aspect of additive
manufacturing technology has played a significant role in the fabrication of sophisticated,
lightweight, and high strength cellular lattice structures. Majorly, they concentrate on
investigating cellular lattice structures by the application of selective laser sintering. It
appropriate for a modeling software known as Creo to be used for the modeling (Niu et al.,
2017).
Niu et al., (2017) further perform a finite element analysis to determine the mechanical
properties of the structures whereby they find that the lattice structure of triangular prism is
recommended as it is associated with desirable young’s modulus. This research is extensive and
offers excellent insight into the software, analytical model, and shape that can be used for the
design of the 3d lattice. Nonetheless, the information on the modeling software is very shallow,
and more research needs to be done. Nevertheless, this research can be useful in the design of
different types of rectangular beam type 3D lattice structures as it gives a clear print.
Rashid, M.U., Qureshi, L.A. and Tahir, M.F., 2019. Investigating Flexural Behaviour of
Prestressed Concrete Girders Cast by Fibre-Reinforced Concrete. Advances in Civil
Engineering, 2019.
Rashid et al., 2019).

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Rashid et al., (2019) attempt to investigate the flexural behavior of prestressed concrete
girders by the addition of steel fibers and propylene by an experimental means. The authors
highlighted the gap in the civil market whereby most applications use just the prestressed
concrete in enhancing the load carrying capacity in the structures, noting that fibers can as well
be of great value. Their findings demonstrate that the addition of fibers results into benefits such
as increased ductility, increased flexural strength as well as improved tensile strength. In term of
deflection and energy absorption to various loads, the reinforced fiber indicated desirable
characteristics (Rashid et al., 2019).
The author’s works provide useful insight, on how the flexural strength can be enhanced,
despite the information being superficial, further research should be done specifically on the use
of fiber with prestressed concrete. This literature is of great importance as it highlights ho the
flexural strength can be enhanced, which will be a great idea in the design of rectangular beam
type 3D lattice structures
Vrána, R., Červinek, O., Maňas, P., Koutný, D., and Paloušek, D., 2018. Dynamic loading
of lattice structure made by selective laser melting-numerical model with
substitution of geometrical imperfections. Materials, 11(11), p.2129.
Vrána et al., (2018) highlight a technology in additive manufacturing known as selective
laser melting, which enables for the production of complex structures characterized by
absorption of energy. The author’s note that despite selective laser melting technique is
desirable, it is associated with many limitations, and integrates it with finite element analysis to
predict the mechanical properties of lattice structure under dynamic loadings. Further, they
performed various experiments, and the result obtained indicated that there was a better match

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when the finite element analysis model was applied to the selective laser melting. The FEA
models were performed in ANSYS workbench (Vrána et al., 2018).
This literature provides insightful information on the significance of the finite element
model and how it is essential in additive manufacturing. However, the work still requires more
profound research as it is superficial. This work is significant in our design of the rectangular
beam type 3D lattice structures since it provides us with a comparative base for the various
additive manufacturing techniques, as well as the best model to be used when it comes to the
analysis of manufactured material.
Conclusion
The literature reviews above seeks to help in the design multiple types of rectangular
beam type 3D lattice structures using Creo software and perform a FEA for optimization
purposes. The presented literature gives an insight on some aspects which will be of significance
in attaining a 3D design with the highest flexural stress.

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References
Arrieta, E., Mireles, J., Stewart, C., Carrasco, C. and Wicker, R., 2018. FINITE ELEMENT
MODELING OF METAL LATTICES USING COMMERCIAL FEA PLATFORMS.
Azman, A.H., 2017. Method for the integration of lattice structures in design for additive
manufacturing (Doctoral dissertation, Université Grenoble Alpes).
Gopsill, J.A., Shindler, J., and Hicks, B.J., 2018. Using finite element analysis to influence the
infill design of fused deposition modeled parts. Progress in Additive Manufacturing, 3(3),
pp.145-163.
Helou, M., and Kara, S., 2018. Design, analysis, and manufacturing of lattice structures: an
overview. International Journal of Computer Integrated Manufacturing, 31(3), pp.243-
261.
Nguyen, J., Park, S.I., Rosen, D.W., Folgar, L., and Williams, J., 2012. Conformal lattice
structure design and fabrication. In Solid Freeform Fabrication Symposium (SFF),
Austin, TX, Aug (pp. 6-8).
Niu, J., Choo, H.L., and Sun, W., 2017. Finite element analysis and experimental study of plastic
lattice structures manufactured by selective laser sintering. Proceedings of the Institution
of Mechanical Engineers, Part L: Journal of Materials: Design and Applications, 231(1-
2), pp.171-178.
Rashid, M.U., Qureshi, L.A. and Tahir, M.F., 2019. Investigating Flexural Behaviour of
Prestressed Concrete Girders Cast by Fibre-Reinforced Concrete. Advances in Civil
Engineering, 2019.

Finite Element Analysis Of Flexural Behaviour9
Vrána, R., Červinek, O., Maňas, P., Koutný, D., and Paloušek, D., 2018. Dynamic loading of
lattice structure made by selective laser melting-numerical model with substitution of
geometrical imperfections. Materials, 11(11), p.2129.