A novel metamaterial with instantaneously sign-switchable coefficient of thermal expansion and Poisson's ratio

Abstract

Most materials expand when heated and contract when cooled. In contrast, negative thermal expansion materials exhibit the opposite behavior. In this paper, we present a metamaterial that expands both when heated and cooled. The unit cell configuration is crafted by embedding two isosceles triangular structures composed of high thermal expansion materials within a re-entrant hexagonal honeycomb framework. Initially, the bases of the two isosceles triangles are in contact. The metamaterial exhibits two deformation states under different external loads. Analytical formulas for the equivalent parameters were derived based on classical beam theory within the regime of small deformation. Finite element simulations were conducted to validate the accuracy of these analytical formulas. The influence of geometric parameters on the metamaterial is discussed in detail. The results demonstrate that the metamaterial can exhibit excellent multi-functional properties within a small range of deformation, including instantaneous sign-variable coefficients of thermal expansion and Poisson's ratios, along with significantly distinct tensile and compressive stiffnesses. This metamaterial consistently exhibits expansive characteristics regardless of variations in ambient temperature. Additionally, the material always expands laterally regardless of the sign of uniaxial loads. Based on these properties, the metamaterial can be applied to fasteners in the aerospace industry that require permanent locking, ensuring stability in various temperature and mechanical load conditions.