Bighorn sheep horn-based metamaterial lattice structures for targeted energy absorption applications

A novel approach to developing architected metamaterial unit cells has been introduced in the study, drawing inspiration from the structural attributes of bighorn sheep horns. By employing Multi Jet Fusion (MJF) additive manufacturing technology, we fabricated specimens for conducting compression tests on a range of structures. Through experimental evaluations and finite element analysis, we assess the impact of two key geometrical features of the sheep horn–curvature and tapering–on mechanical performance. Our findings reveal that horn-inspired lattice structures improve specific energy absorption by 25.4% compared to similar structures without tapering and curvature and a 52.8% enhancement in specific energy absorption compared to conventional designs, such as Kelvin foam. The unique structural characteristics of bighorn sheep horns provide valuable insights for developing energy-absorbing structures, highlighting their potential for applications that demand efficient energy management in lightweight designs.