Homogenization
How a complex lattice is reduced to a single effective stiffness — and what that estimate assumes.
An equivalent uniform material.
Homogenization replaces a lattice with an equivalent uniform material of the same average stiffness. It applies unit strains to a representative cell under periodic boundary conditions, measures the average stress response, and assembles the effective stiffness tensor C* from the results.
The estimate rests on a separation of scales: it assumes the cell is small compared with the part, that the lattice repeats periodically, and that the material stays linear-elastic. Near a free surface, at large strains, or with only a few cells across a section, expect deviations.
Fast estimate, then full solve.
The design tools run a fast field-based estimate (MIL-HS) inline; beam uses an exact beam-frame method for trusses. Lab runs the full-field FFT solve for the complete tensor when accuracy matters, and sweep applies the estimate across a batch.
Estimate to rank, solve to commit.
Treat the inline number as a ranking signal during design, and confirm a finalist with a full solve in lab before committing — especially for thin sections or highly anisotropic lattices.