AMALIA – Cellular Structures for Maximum Energy Absorption

Within the EDA project AMALIA, cellular structures are optimized for kinetic energy absorption to minimize force transmission, reduce weight, and maximize protection. Through simulation-driven optimization and experimental validation, cellular and lattice-based structures with superior specific energy absorption are developed. These include auxetic, minimal surface, and multi-material designs tailored for safety-critical applications such as personal protection, military equipment, or vehicle structures.

Core competencies include:

• Optimization of cellular structures at meso- and macro-scales
• Development of AI-supported optimization approaches
• Auxetic lattice and minimal surface structures
• Simulation of blast and impact loads
• Experimental validation for crash, impact, and blast conditions

Publications:

1. Baranowski, Pawel & Kucewicz, Michał & Płatek, Paweł & Kappe, Konstantin & Cieplak, Kamil & Malachowski, Jerzy. (2025). Numerical and Experimental Evaluation of Maraging Steel Cellular Topologies for Ballistic Panel Design. International Journal of Impact Engineering. 206. 105447. 10.1016/j.ijimpeng.2025.105447  

2. Kappe, Konstantin & Hoschke, Klaus & Riedel, Werner & Hiermaier, Stefan. (2023). Multi-objective optimization of additive manufactured functionally graded lattice structures under impact. International Journal of Impact Engineering. 183. 104789. 10.1016/j.ijimpeng.2023.104789  

3. Kappe, Konstantin & Hoschke, Klaus & Riedel, Werner & Hiermaier, Stefan. (2023). Multi-objective optimization of additive manufactured functionally graded lattice structures under impact. International Journal of Impact Engineering. 183. 104789. 10.1016/j.ijimpeng.2023.104789 

4. Kappe, Konstantin & Wahl, Jan & Gutmann, Florian & Boyadzhieva, Silviya & Hoschke, Klaus & Fischer, Sarah. (2022). Design and Manufacturing of a Metal-Based Mechanical Metamaterial with Tunable Damping Properties. Materials. 15. 5644. 10.3390/ma15165644  

5. Kappe, Konstantin & Jäcklein, Martin & Pfaff, Aron & Hoschke, Klaus. (2022). Finite element modeling concepts for the dynamic compression response of additively manufactured lattices structures. DYMAT 2022. DOI: 10.6094/UNIFR/228460

Links:

https://www.emi.fraunhofer.de/en/business-units/defense/in-focus/additive-manufacturing/kinetic-energy-absorbers.html

Contact:

Konstantin Kappe, konstantin.kappe@emi.fraunhofer.de, +49 (761) 2714 – 587