This work presents a comparative study on the mechanical homogenisation of Triply Periodic Minimal Surface (TPMS) lattice structures, which have attracted significant interest for their unique ability to combine lightweight design with tailored mechanical, thermal, and acoustic properties. The study investigates the effective mechanical behaviour of Representative Unit Cells (RUCs) generated using the open-source Python tool Microgen. Two homogenisation strategies are considered: (i) Finite Element (FE)-based homogenisation carried out in Abaqus, and (ii) the Mechanics of Structure Genome (MSG), a unified theory for multiscale constitutive modelling, implemented in a specialized software framework. The comparison encompasses multiple TPMS topologies, including well-studied cases used for validation as well as less-explored ones to provide new insights, namely gyroid, diamond, PMY, and F-Rhombic Dodecahedron (F-RD). RUCs are analysed across relative densities ranging from 10% to 50%. Equivalent linear elastic properties (Young’s moduli, shear moduli, and Poisson’s ratios) are derived and compared to assess the consistency, accuracy, and computational efficiency of the two approaches. Furthermore, the anisotropy of each TPMS topology across the range of relative densities is examined through the directional distribution of Young’s moduli. The outcomes are expected to clarify the strengths and limitations of FE versus MSG in capturing the effective behaviour of architected cellular solids, thus supporting the selection of homogenisation strategies for the design of lattice-based lightweight structures.
                    Previous Article in event
            
                            Previous Article in session
            
                    
    
                    Next Article in event
            
                            
                                                    
        
                    Triply periodic minimal surface metamaterials stiffness prediction via the variational asymptotic method for unit cell homogenization
                
                                    
                
                
                    Published:
29 October 2025
by MDPI
in The 4th International Online Conference on Materials
session Materials Theory, Simulations and AI
                
                
                
                    Abstract: 
                                    
                        Keywords: Triply Periodic Minimal Surfaces; Homogenisation; Finite Element Analysis; Variational Asymptotic Method; Lattice Materials
                    
                
                
                 
         
            
 
        
    
    
         
    
    
         
    
    
         
    
    
         
    
