Exploring the vibration and energy absorption characteristic of auxetic tubular structure: an experimental analysis

Abstract

This experimental study delves into the vibration response and energy absorption characteristics of three distinct auxetic tubular structures under quasi-static compression: the Reentrant, Double-V, and Anti-Trichiral designs. Notably characterized by their negative Poisson’s ratio, these structures exhibit superior mechanical properties in comparison to conventional tubular structures with a positive Poisson’s ratio. For consistency, all samples were standardized in terms of diameter and height, while variations due to unit cell geometry were parameterized based on the structure’s weight. The samples were fabricated using Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) with both PLA and PLA-Carbon filaments. Modal testing was conducted to evaluate structural damping, providing insights through time domain plots and frequency response functions. Subsequent compression testing facilitated the assessment of force-displacement relationships, thereby enabling the quantification of energy absorbed, specific energy absorption, and peak crushing force metrics. The analysis revealed that Reentrant unit cells constructed from PLA exhibited a 5% higher damping efficiency compared to Double-V and 4% higher than Anti-Trichiral units. Similarly, Reentrant units in PLA-Carbon demonstrated an 8 and 30% increase in damping relative to Double-V and Anti-Trichiral, respectively. During quasi-static compression, Double-V units in PLA showcased a 66 and 13% superior energy absorption capacity over Reentrant and Anti-Trichiral units, respectively. With PLA-Carbon, Double-V units exhibited a 28 and 116% enhanced energy absorption capacity compared to Reentrant and Anti-Trichiral units, respectively. This comprehensive evaluation offers insightful revelations into the damping and energy absorption capabilities of varying auxetic cell structures when composed of different materials, highlighting their potential in engineering applications.