Compressive mechanical properties and dynamic behaviour of origami-inspired tri-directional auxetic metastructure

Abstract

This study investigates the compressive properties of origami-inspired metastructures in the three directions and compares them with the conventional two-dimensional (2D) double arrow structure. Quasi-static crushing experiments of the 2D double arrow specimens are first conducted and the test results are used to calibrate the finite element model. With the calibrated numerical model, the compressive strength and tri-directional auxeticity of the origami-inspired metastructures and the conventional 2D double arrow structure are numerically investigated under quasi-static and dynamic crushing. As compared to the 2D double arrow structure, the origami-inspired metastructure shows larger transverse contraction deformation owing to its more obvious tri-directional auxeticity, and exhibits more isotropic crushing resistance in the three directions. In addition, the localized impact resistance performances of the origami-inspired metastructures are examined and compared with the 2D double arrow structure. The maximum indentation depth of the origami-inspired metastructure can reach up to 40% less than that of the 2D double arrow structure, indicating its superior impact resistance performance and great potential for impact-resistant applications.