Elastic constants of 3-, 4- and 6-connected chiral and anti-chiral honeycombs subject to uniaxial in-plane loading

• Published in: Composites science and technology Vol. 70; no. 7; pp. 1042 - 1048
• Main Authors: Alderson, A., Alderson, K.L., Attard, D., Evans, K.E., Gatt, R., Grima, J.N., Miller, W., Ravirala, N., Smith, C.W., Zied, K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.07.2010; Elsevier
• Subjects: A. Smart materials; Applied sciences; Arrays; B. Mechanical properties; C. Deformation; C. Elastic properties; C. Finite element analysis (FEA); Cylinders; Elastic constants; Exact sciences and technology; Forms of application and semi-finished materials; Honeycomb; Honeycomb construction; Ligaments; Mathematical analysis; Mechanical properties; Miscellaneous; Polymer industry, paints, wood; Technology of polymers; B. Mechanical properties; C. Finite element analysis (FEA); C. Deformation; A. Smart materials; C. Elastic properties; Elastic constant; Structure effect; Nylon; Mechanical properties; Compressive strength; Experimental study; Modeling; Finite element method; Honeycomb structure; Poisson ratio; Rapid prototyping; Numerical simulation
• ISSN: 0266-3538; 1879-1050
• DOI: 10.1016/j.compscitech.2009.07.009

Finite element models are developed for the in-plane linear elastic constants of a family of honeycombs comprising arrays of cylinders connected by ligaments. Honeycombs having cylinders with 3, 4 and 6 ligaments attached to them are considered, with two possible configurations explored for each of the 3- (trichiral and anti-trichiral) and 4- (tetrachiral and anti-tetrachiral) connected systems. Honeycombs for each configuration have been manufactured using rapid prototyping and subsequently characterised for mechanical properties through in-plane uniaxial loading to verify the models. An interesting consequence of the family of ‘chiral’ honeycombs presented here is the ability to produce negative Poisson’s ratio (auxetic) response. The deformation mechanisms responsible for auxetic functionality in such honeycombs are discussed.