Experimental study of modulus, strength and toughness of 2D triangular lattices

Prior analytical and numerical studies have shown that the triangular lattice is one of the stiffest, strongest and toughest geometries of 2D lattices. However, there has been little previously published experimental data on mechanical properties of triangular lattices. In this work the modulus, tensile strength and fracture toughness of 2D triangular lattices have been measured experimentally. The accuracy of existing prediction methods for lattice properties has been evaluated. The dependence of strength and toughness on the orientation of the lattice has also been measured. It has found that the tensile strength and fracture behaviour vary markedly with orientation, although the lattice modulus is isotropic. The measured results agree well with analytical and FE predictions.