Chain structure for ceramic lattices with improved energy absorption and delayed failure

Ceramic lattices hold promise for structural and functional applications due to its lightweight and high specific strength. However, the brittle fracture of ceramic lattices under quasi-static or dynamic loading significantly limits the applications in energy absorption. To address this challenge, this study proposes a chain-lattice composite energy absorber inspired by the mortise and tenon joint. The chain structure operates as a generalizable mechanical principle by transforming tensile loads into confined axial compression within an internal energy-absorbing core, thereby suppressing the development of tensile strain in non-loading directions. This boundary confinement strategy effectively delayed global failure and enhanced energy absorption through controlled damage progression and stress redistribution. Quasi-static compression tests on various ceramic lattices revealed distinct deformation modes and failure mechanisms under unconstrained loading. Furthermore, quasi-static and dynamic tensile experiments on chain structure filled with lattices provided insights into constrained failure behavior and energy absorption characteristics under constrained loading. The results demonstrate that ceramic lattices within chain structure can absorb kinetic energy even after brittle fractures occur. Compared to unconstrained situations, the effective displacement of lattices under constraint can be increased by at least 19 times and the specific energy absorption can be increased by over 17 times. Notably, the BCC lattice-based chain absorber exhibits a stress plateau and large effective displacement, highlighting its ability to delay failure through progressive densification. This study provides a novel design strategy for enhancing the energy absorption capacity and delaying global failure in brittle materials, bridging core mechanical principles with practical applications in impact protection.