Microlattice damping material and method for repeatable energy absorption

A damping material, comprising:

• a micro-lattice formed of a three-dimensional interconnected network of hollow tubes;
• wherein the hollow tubes are formed of a material having a relatively density in a range of 0.00001 to 0.0005 in relation to the theoretical density of the material and have a wall thickness and a diameter, such that a wall thickness to diameter ratio is on the order of εy, wherein εy denotes a yield strain material property of the material forming the hollow tubes;
• and
• wherein the damping ability is provided by elastic buckling of the hollow tubes and/or nodes where the tubes intersect upon receiving a load, whereby upon removal of that load, the micro-lattice substantially recovers its original shape.