Computational modelling of structures with non-intuitive behaviour

Abstract

This paper presents a finite-element analysis of honeycomb and re-entrant honeycomb structures made of a two-phase composite material which is optimized with respect to selected parameters. It is shown that some distributions of each phase in the composite material result in the counter-intuitive mechanical behaviour of the structures. In particular, negative values of effective Poisson's ratio, i.e., effective auxeticity, can be obtained for a hexagonal honeycomb, whereas re-entrant geometry can be characterized by positive values. Topology optimization by means of the method of moving asymptotes (MMA) and solid isotropic material with penalization (SIMP) was used to determine the materials' distributions.