A thorough understanding of the mechanical behavior of polymers, particularly their rate-dependence, is crucial for accurate material modeling and the design of polymer structures. This knowledge helps prevent the development of unrealistic mathematical formulations that fail to replicate experimental results or the natural behavior of these structures.

In our recent research, we investigated the loading rate-dependent energy dissipation of polymer structures fabricated using grayscale masked stereolithography. Additionally, we compared various grading strategies in lattice structures within the linear viscoelastic regime.

Our findings enhance the understanding of the mechanical behavior of polymer structures in energy absorption and dissipation applications.

The manuscript has been published in the journal “Smart Materials and Structures” under an open access license and is available online at: https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-665X/ad442a