Auxetic two-dimensional lattices with Poisson's ratio arbitrarily close to −1

Abstract

In this paper, we propose a class of lattice structures with macroscopic Poisson's ratio arbitrarily close to the stability limit −1. We tested experimentally the effective Poisson's ratio of the microstructured medium; the uniaxial test was performed on a thermoplastic lattice produced with a three-dimensional printing technology. A theoretical analysis of the effective properties was performed, and the expression of the macroscopic constitutive properties is given in full analytical form as a function of the constitutive properties of the elements of the lattice and on the geometry of the microstructure. The analysis was performed on three microgeometries leading to an isotropic behaviour for the cases of three- and sixfold symmetries and to a cubic behaviour for the case of fourfold symmetry.