Active energy absorbing cellular metals and method of manufacturing and using the same

Abstract

A lightweight periodic cellular structure has a stacked array of hollow or solid structural elements that are bonded at their contact points in order to form a stacked lattice structure. Further arrays may be stacked onto the stacked lattice structure in order to form a periodic cellular structure of varying thickness and depth. Also, structural panels may be added to parallel exterior edges of the stacked lattice structure to form a structural panel. Further, the hollow structural elements are provided with wicking elements along their interior walls to facilitate heat transfer through the periodic cellular structure. Liquid may also be introduced into the hollow structural elements to further facilitate heat transfer through the periodic cellular structure. Also, the cellular structure may be utilized as light weight current collectors, such as electrodes, anodes, and cathodes. The related method of manufacturing the periodic cellular structure can accommodate a variety of cross-sectional shapes, introduce a variety of stacking offset angles to vary the lattice shape and resultant mechanical characteristics of the periodic cellular structure; and allow for the bending of the array of hollow or solid structural elements into an array of hollow pyramidal truss elements that can be used to form a stacked pyramidal.

1 . A multifunctional member adapted for structural deformation and reformation, the multifunctional member comprising: 
 at least one active core member, said active core member adapted to deform if exposed to an external force, and reform from a deformed state upon removal of the external force;    at least one upper member disposed on said core member, said upper member further comprised of at least one protrusion, whereby said protrusions generally protruding in the direction of said active core member;    at least one lower member disposed on said core member opposite said upper member, said lower member further comprised of at least one protrusion, whereby said protrusions generally protruding in the direction of said active core member; and    said at least some of said upper protrusions and lower protrusions are aligned relative to one another such they will interpenetrate when subject to the force.    
   
   
       2 . The multifunctional member of  claim 1 , wherein said active core is made from pseudo-elastic SMA material or a super elastic SMA material.  
   
   
       3 . A multifunctional member adapted for structural deformation and reformation, the multifunctional member comprising: 
 at least one active core member, said active cellular core member adapted to deform if exposed to an external force, and reform from a deformed state upon removal of the external force;    at least one upper three-dimensional space filling layer disposed on said core member, said upper three-dimensional space filling layer comprised of an array of out of plane truss units;    at least one lower three-dimensional space filling layer disposed on said active core member opposite said upper space filling layer, said lower three-dimensional space filling layer comprised of an array of out of plane truss units;    said at least some of said upper and lower three-dimensional space filling layers are aligned relative to one another such that they will interpenetrate when subjected to the force.    
   
   
       4 . A multifunctional member adapted for structural deformation and reformation, the multifunctional member comprising: 
 at least one active core member, said active core member adapted to deform in tension if exposed to an external force, and reform from a deformed state upon removal of the external force;    at least one upper expandable layer disposed on said core member, said upper expandable layer comprising an array of out of expandable units, said upper expandable units having a base dimension as defined by the dimension substantially parallel to said active core member, and a height dimension as defined by the dimension substantially perpendicular to said active core member;    at least one lower expandable layer disposed on said active core member opposite said upper space filling layer, said lower expandable layer comprised of an array of expandable units, said lower expandable units having a base dimension as defined by the dimension substantially parallel to said active core member, and a height dimension as defined by the dimension substantially perpendicular to said active core member, and    said upper and lower expandable layers are adapted whereby when subject to the force the height dimensions of at least some of the upper and lower expandable units decrease thereby deforming the active core member in tension.    
   
   
       5 . A multifunctional member adapted for structural deformation and reformation, the multifunctional member comprising: 
 at least one active core member, said active core member adapted to deform in tension if exposed to an external force, and reform from a deformed state upon removal of the external force;    at least one upper three-dimensional space filling layer disposed on said core member, said upper three-dimensional space filling layer comprised of an array of out of plane truss units, said upper truss units having a base dimension as defined by the dimension substantially parallel to said active core member, and a height dimension as defined by the dimension substantially perpendicular to said active core member;    at least one lower three-dimensional space filling layer disposed on said active core member opposite said upper space filling layer, said lower three-dimensional space filling layer comprised of an array of out of plane truss units, said lower truss units having a base dimension as defined by the dimension substantially parallel to said active core member, and a height dimension as defined by the dimension substantially perpendicular to said active core member, and    said upper and lower three-dimensional space filling layers are adapted whereby when subject to the force the height dimensions of at least some of the upper and lower truss units decrease thereby deforming the active core member in tension.    
   
   
       6 . A multifunctional member adapted for structural deformation and reformation, the multifunctional member comprising: 
 at least one active core member, said active core member adapted to deform if exposed to an external force, and reform from a deformed state upon removal of the external force;    at least one upper exterior member disposed on said core member; and    at least one lower exterior member disposed on said core member opposite said upper exterior member, wherein at least a portion of said at least one upper exterior member and at least a portion of said at least one lower member interpenetrate one another when subject to the force.    
   
   
       7 . A multifunctional member adapted for structural deformation and reformation, the multifunctional member comprising: 
 at least one active core member, said active core member adapted to deform in tension if exposed to an external force, and reform from a deformed state upon removal of the external force;    at least one upper expandable layer disposed on said core member, said upper expandable layer comprising an array of out of expandable units, said upper expandable units having a base dimension as defined by the dimension substantially parallel to said active core member, and a height dimension as defined by the dimension substantially perpendicular to said active core member;    at least one lower expandable layer disposed on said active core member opposite said upper space filling layer, said lower expandable layer comprised of an array of expandable units, said lower expandable units having a base dimension as defined by the dimension substantially parallel to said active core member, and a height dimension as defined by the dimension substantially perpendicular to said active core member, and    said upper and lower expandable layers are adapted whereby when subject to the force the base dimensions of at least some of the upper and lower expandable units increase thereby deforming the active core member in tension.    
   
   
       8 . A multifunctional member adapted for structural deformation and reformation, the multifunctional member comprising: 
 at least one active core member, said active core member adapted to deform in tension if exposed to an external force, and reform from a deformed state upon removal of the external force;    at least one upper three-dimensional space filling layer disposed on said core member, said upper three-dimensional space filling layer comprised of an array of out of plane truss units, said upper truss units having a base dimension as defined by the dimension substantially parallel to said active core member, and a height dimension as defined by the dimension substantially perpendicular to said active core member;    at least one lower three-dimensional space filling layer disposed on said active core member opposite said upper space filling layer, said lower three-dimensional space filling layer comprised of an array of out of plane truss units, said lower truss units having a base dimension as defined by the dimension substantially parallel to said active core member, and a height dimension as defined by the dimension substantially perpendicular to said active core member, and said upper and lower three-dimensional space filling layers are adapted whereby when subject to the force the base dimensions of at least some of the upper and lower truss units increase thereby deforming the active core member in tension.