Auxetic response of additive manufactured cubic chiral lattices at large plastic strains

Auxetic lattices exhibit a negative Poisson’s ratio and excellent energy absorption capability. Here, we investigate the compressive performance of auxetic cubic chiral structures. By utilising finite element analysis (FEA) verified by interrupted mechanical testing and x-ray computed tomography, the auxeticity and failure mechanisms at the large strain deformation have been evaluated. The FEA results show that the initial elastic–plastic response agrees with the prediction of the classic scaling laws of bending-dominated lattices. At increasing plastic deformation, the energy absorption and auxeticity are dependent on relative density, i.e., the slenderness ratio, of the constitutive struts. In the plastic regime, the auxeticity decreases with relative density. Ductile fracture precedes densification in relative densities above 1.2%, thus dictating a new scaling law for the variation of the maximum energy absorbed with density. The numerical model predicts the scaling of mechanical properties, fracture strains, and energy absorption of the constitutive unit cell and finite-sized specimens in the relative density ranging from 0.3% to 6.5%. However, to accurately model the failure mechanism, geometrical imperfections should be included. The scaling laws derived from this work may aid the design of next generation auxetic lattices with tailored mechanical properties