The topology optimization (TO) process has the objective to structurally optimize products in various industries, such as in biomechanical engineering. Additive manufacturing facilitates this procedure and enables the utility of advanced structures in order to achieve the optimal product design. Currently, orthopedic implants are fabricated from metal or metal alloys with totally solid structure to withstand the applied loads; nevertheless, such a practice reduces the compatibility with human tissues and increases the manufacturing cost as more feedstock material is needed. This article investigates the possibility of applying bioinspired lattice structures (cellular materials) in order to topologically optimize an orthopedic hip implant, made of Inconel 718 superalloy. Lattice structures enable topology optimization of an object by reducing its weight and increasing its porosity without compromising its mechanical behavior. Specifically, three different bioinspired advanced lattice structures were investigated through finite element analysis (FEA) under in vivo loading. Furthermore, the regions with lattice structure were optimized through functional gradation of the cellular material. Results have shown that optimal design of hip implant geometry, in terms of stress behavior, was achieved through functionally graded lattice structures and the hip implant is capable of withstanding up to two times the in vivo loads, suggesting that this design is a suitable and effective replacement for a solid implant.

One of the main advantages of Additive Manufacturing (AM) is the ability to produce topologically optimized parts with high geometric complexity. In this context, a plethora of architected materials was investigated and utilized in order to optimize the 3D design of existing parts, reducing their mass, topology-controlling their mechanical response, and adding remarkable physical properties, such as high porosity and high surface area to volume ratio. Thus, the current re-view has been focused on providing the definition of architected materials and explaining their main physical properties. Furthermore, an up-to-date classification of cellular materials is presented containing all types of lattice structures. In addition, this research summarized the developed methods that enhance the mechanical performance of architected materials. Then, the effective mechanical behavior of the architected materials was investigated and compared through the existing literature. Moreover, commercial applications and potential uses of the architected materials are presented in various industries, such as the aeronautical, automotive, biomechanical, etc. The objectives of this comprehensive review are to provide a detailed map of the existing architected materials and their mechanical behavior, explore innovative techniques for improving them and highlight the comprehensive advantages of topology optimization in industrial applications utilizing additive manufacturing and novel architected materials.

This paper investigates the mechanical behavior of additive manufactured Triply Periodic Minimal Surface (TPMS) structures, such as Gyroid, Schwarz Diamond and Schwarz Primitive. Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) technique was utilized in order to fabricate lattice structures with different relative densities, at 10%, 20% and 30%, using Polylactic acid (PLA). The test specimens were formed by structural TPMS unit cells and they were tested under quasi-static compression. A finite element analysis (FEA) was performed in order to predict their stress-strain behavior and compare with the experimental results. The results revealed that each architecture influences the mechanical properties of the structure differently depending on the impact of size effect. The structures were designed as sandwich structures (with a top and bottom plate) to avoid significant deterioration of the mechanical behavior, due to the size effect and this was achieved at high relative densities. The Schwarz Diamond structure demonstrated the highest mechanical strength compared with the other architectures, while the Gyroid structure also revealed a similar mechanical performance. In addition, Schwarz Primitive structure showed increased energy absorption especially during plastic deformation. The overall results revealed that the integrity of the mechanical properties of the studied TPMS FFF printed structures deteriorates, as the relative density of the structures decreases.

The advent of Industry 4.0 and the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming supply chain management (SCM), improving efficiency, resilience and strategic decision-making capabilities. This research study provides a comprehensive overview of AI applications in key SCM processes, including customer relationship management, inventory management, transportation networks, procurement, demand forecasting and risk management. AI technologies such as Machine Learning, Natural Language Processing and Generative AI offer transformative solutions to streamline logistics, reduce operational risk and improve demand forecasting. In addition, this study identifies barriers to AI adoption, such as implementation challenges, organizational readiness and ethical concerns, and highlights the critical role of AI in promoting supply chain visibility and resilience in the midst of global crises. Future trends emphasize human-centric AI, increasing digital maturity, and addressing ethical and security concerns. This review concludes by confirming the critical role of AI in shaping sustainable, flexible and resilient supply chains while providing a roadmap for future research and application in SCM.

Architected materials are increasingly applied in form of lattice structures to biomedical implant design for the purpose of optimizing the implant’s biomechanical properties. Since the porous design of the lattice structures affects the resulting properties of the implant, its parameters are being investigated by numerous research articles. The design-related parameters of the unit cells for a strut-architected material are mainly the pore size and the strut thickness. Until today, researchers have not been able to decide on the perfect values of the unit cell parameters for the osseointegration process and tissue regeneration. Based on in vivo and in vitro experiments conducted in the field, researchers have suggested a range of values for the parameters of the lattice structures where osseointegration is in acceptable status. The present study presents a comprehensive review of the research carried out until today, experimenting and proposing the optimum unit cell parameters to generate the most suitable lattice structure for the osseointegration procedure presented in orthopedic applications. Additional recommendations, research gaps, and instructions to improve the selection process of the unit cell parameters are also discussed.