Lattice structures for engineering applications are patterns of unit cells designed to make a larger functional structure. Research on lattice structures ranges in many fields, from mechanical characterization and cell and pattern designs in respect of their applications, to the manufacturing process and its final shape control. From the manufacturing point of view, some kinds of lattice structures can be infeasible when approached with traditional manufacturing methods. It may offer an inevitable limitation of their adoption. However, advancements in Additive Manufacturing (AM) have solved this manufacturing issue to a great extent, allowing to obtain major complexity of the cells that can be achieved. The topology, shape of the unit cell, and the characteristics of its replication pattern allow us to obtain many kinds of structures in respect of the different engineering requirements and manufacturing constraints. Nevertheless, the necessity of new or dedicated CAD-CAE approaches arises to manage the domains of multiscale modeling. These are some of the advantages and disadvantages that may arise while approaching the design of a component using lattice structures. The aim of this paper is to provide an overview that integrates the most recent applications of lattice structures with their related design and manufacturing issues so that, from a practical design point of view, any state-of-the-art improvements may be established in respect of the related field of applications. In this article, engineers and researchers may find a practical summary of the capabilities and processes of lattice structures that are currently available from a design and development point of view.

In finite element analysis of sheet metal forming the use of combined isotropic-kinematic hardening models is advisable to improve stamping simulation and springback prediction. This choice becomes compulsory to model recent materials such as high strength steels. Cyclic tests are strictly required to evaluate the parameters of these constitutive models. However, for sheet metal specimens, in case of simple axial tension-compression tests, buckling occurrence during compression represents a serious drawback. This is the reason why alternative set-ups have been devised. In this paper, two experimental arrangements (a cyclic laterally constrained tension-compression test and a three-point fully reversed bending test) are compared so as to point out the advantages and the disadvantages of their application in tuning the well-known Chaboche’s hardening model. In particular, for tension-compression tests, a new clamping device was specifically designed to inhibit compressive instability. Four high strength steel grades were tested: two dual phases (DP), one transformation induced plasticity (TRIP) and one high strength low alloy material (HSLA). Then, the Chaboche’s model was calibrated through inverse identification methods or by means of analytical expressions when possible. The proposed testing procedure proved to be successful in all investigated materials. The achieved constitutive parameters, obtained independently from the two experimental techniques, were found to be consistent. Their accuracy was also been assessed by applying the parameter set obtained from one test to simulate the other one, and vice versa. Clues on what method provides the better transferability are given.

This paper presents a point cloud segmentation based on a spatial multiresolution discretisation that is derived from hierarchical space partitioning. Through part type recognition it aims to simplify Computer Aided Tolerance Inspection of electromechanical components avoiding cloud-CAD model registration. A voxel structure subdivides the point cloud. Then, through a suitable surface partitioning, it is linked to component volumes by means of the morphological components of the binary image that is derived from voxel attributes (‘true state’ if points are included in a specific cluster or ‘false state’ if they are not). The proposed approach is then applied on a din-rail clip of a breaker, made by injection moulding. This case study points out the suitability of the approach on box-shaped components or with normal protrusions, and its limits concerning the assumptions of the implementation.