Compressive mechanical properties of ex-situ auxetic composite-filled tubes

Abstract

Auxetic materials are a class of materials that expand transversely when stretched longitudinally. Recently, auxetic materials are gaining special interest in wide range of applications mainly due to their attractive mechanical behavior. In this study, we focus on the compressive properties of new three-component auxetic composite-filled tubes including empty tubes, auxetic lattice structures and polymer fillers. The compressive behavior of three-component auxetic composite-filled tubes, auxetic composites and empty tube was investigated by means of finite element analysis (FEA) and experimental method. The results indicated that the auxetic composite-filled tubes exhibit superior behavior compared with both the empty tube and auxetic composites, even significantly higher stress than the sum of total thereof. This feature is related to the interaction effect and additional support between the three components. The energy absorption characteristics and deformation modes of the auxetic composite-filled tubes and empty tube were also ascertained. It was concluded that inserting auxetic composite as a filler material inside the empty tube significantly improved its energy absorption, as well as delaying crack initiation and propagation in the empty tube.

Keywords

• Auxetic structure
• Auxetic composite
• Ex-situ auxetic composite-filled tubes
• Mechanical property
• Finite element analysis (FEA)
• Energy absorption