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AbstractAuxetics have emerged recently as an exciting class of mechanical metamaterials that are identified by negative Poisson’s ratio. The mechanical properties of rationally designed auxetic metamaterials are mostly influenced by their topological characteristics rather than the material properties of their constituent material. The goal of this paper is to use optimization algorithms to achieve the desired target mechanical properties for reentrant auxetic metamaterials. The GEKKO optimization package in Python is used for optimizing the geometry of auxetic lattice structures. Several mechanical properties including Poisson’s ratio, relative Young’s modulus, relative yield stress, and relative energy absorption capability, as well as the noted properties normalized with respect to relative density and relative Young’s modulus are chosen for being minimized or maximized. ANSYS finite element package is also implemented for validation of the results obtained from the optimization algorithm. According to the results, to achieve the maximum magnitude of Poisson’s ratio (positive and negative), the size of the unit cell in the lateral direction must be selected to be maximum and the thickness must become minimum. Moreover, to achieve the maximum value of the relative Young’s modulus or energy absorption in any direction, the size of the unit cell in that direction must be maximized. Also, to achieve the maximum amount of relative yield stress in both directions, the unit cell must have a maximum thickness and an internal angle close to zero. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents an analysis of rotating rigid unit (RRU) auxetic structures, the special property of which is negative Poisson's ratio. The crucial features of such modified structures are the well-functioning linkages of the square units at their pivot points. This ensures the stable functioning of such structures in tension or compression. The presented geometrical analysis of these auxetic structures may facilitate their adequate construction and allow one to determine the expected values of their expansion as well as the desired porosity. The results are confirmed based on the behaviour of physical models produced by the assembly of square units. The change in the dimensions of the physical models when moving from a closed to an open position is consistent with the predictions of the geometric models. By modifying the well-known 'rotating squares' model, physical structures with auxetic properties are obtained that can be utilised in industrial conditions, where a simultaneous change of linear dimensions is needed—either in compression or in tension. The assembly method may prove efficient in building such structures, given the abilities of assembly robots to regularly arrange the unit cells in lines and rows and to connect them with rings at the designated positions (evenly spaced perforations). The presented auxetic structures might find their potential application in, e.g., expansion joints or structures in which the porosity is mechanically changed, such as mesoscale structures. The tested structures subjected to high compressive forces buckle when the yield strength of the rigid unit material is exceeded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims at to improve the vibration behavior of the train floor panel by the use of a cellular auxetic layer. A field measurement is performed to obtain the vibrational frequency content of the body floor moving on the tangent track. Using acceleration sensors, the vibrational response is measured on the bogie (as the input excitation) and on the floor panel (as the observation response). Finite Element modeling for the floor panel is accomplished and measurement data are used for both the input excitation and the verification of the numerical results. The floor panel is a sandwich panel containing multiple layers. In this study, the conventional wooden layer of the panel is substituted with a cellular auxetic one with a re-entrant hexagonal pattern. Then, an optimization problem is defined while the topological parameters of the auxetic layer are the design variables and the dynamic performance of the panel is the objective function. The parameter of power–mass–ratio (PMR) is defined taking the effects of both weight and dynamic response amplitude into calculation. It is found that the PMR is reduced to almost 0.6 by replacing the wooden layer with an auxetic one, and after topological optimization, it is reduced to 0.35. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThis paper presents an analysis of a sandwich structure featuring an auxetic core, manufactured through Vacuum Assisted Resin Transfer Molding (VARTM) using carbon-aramid hybrid fibers. The core was 3D printed with polylactic acid (PLA). Experimental testing of the structure provided results for validating a cost-effective numerical model. The response surface methodology identified results for different sandwich panel configurations, revealing that auxetic behavior depends on the core’s adopted configuration. Increasing the fiber-core contact area induces auxetic behaviors. The structure underwent optimization using the Lichtenberg algorithm, yielding models with 40.32% higher failure load, 36.36% higher natural frequency, and over 20% mass reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Three-dimensional (3D) fabrics with negative Poisson's ratio (NPR) are known as 3D auxetic fabrics. They expand (or contract) in the direction perpendicular to stretch (or compression) under uniaxial tensile (or compressing) conditions. Many enhanced properties come with this unusual auxetic behaviour, such as shear modulus, indentation resistance, fracture toughness, energy absorption, synclastic curvature, etc. Therefore, these 3D auxetic metamaterials have a broad prospect in applications like personal protective equipment as a replacement of polyurethane foams, fabric-reinforced composites with improved ballistic and impact resistance, and women's brassiere paddings with perfect shape-ability. This paper presents a review on 3D fabrics with NPR produced with different fabric technologies, including weaving, knitting, nonwoven, and other techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mechanical metamaterials have generated considerable interest due to their unique attributes such as light weight, high strength, enhanced energy absorption, high impact, and fracture resistance. However, most of the design methodologies in literature are predominantly computational and provide limited user-insight (especially for three-dimensional designs). This paper presents an alternative two-phase design methodology for the conceptual synthesis of three-dimensional tunable mechanical metamaterials. In the first phase, we obtain a kinematically feasible conceptual topology using a building block-based design approach. In the second phase, the conceptual topology is refined using shape/size optimization to meet specific elastic properties and conform to manufacturing requirements. The building block-based approach uses a unique visualization formulation that represents the deformation behavior as 'load flow' in the constituent members. An immersive virtual reality tool is developed to mitigate the visual difficulty in the design of three-dimensional microstructures. Furthermore, the load flow formulation is used to propose a qualitative classification scheme for negative Poisson's ratio elastic metamaterials based on relative values of shear moduli and bi-axial elastic stiffnesses. The efficacy of the framework is illustrated through the design of microstructures with negative Poisson's ratios in spatial directions and the ability to achieve isotropic microstructures from a qualitative understanding of the conceptual designs. Such a framework can lead to the design of synthetic materials that have potential applications in multifunctional structures, shape morphing structures, and soft robotics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Auxetic metamaterials exhibit an unexpected behaviour of a negative Poisson’s ratio (NPR), meaning they expand transversely when stretched longitudinally. This behaviour is generated predominantly due to the way individual elements of an auxetic lattice are structured. These structures are gaining interest in a wide variety of applications such as energy absorption, sensors, smart filters, vibration isolation and medical etc. Their potential could be further exploited by the use of additive manufacturing. Currently there is a lack of guidance on how to design these structures. This paper highlights state-of-the-art in auxetic metamaterials and its commonly used unit-cell types. It further explores the design approaches used in the literature on creating auxetic lattices for different applications and proposes, for the first time, a workflow comprising design, simulation and testing of auxetic structures. This workflow provides guidance on the design process for using auxetic metamaterials in structural applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper "Buckling of stretched strips" [1] , published in the year 2000, seemed to deal with a rather specific problem of buckling of thin structures. Nevertheless, it aroused quite broad interest and prompted a considerable series of further treatments. Deeper theoretical considerations and advanced applications have been published. Various specific aspects of this type of problem have been addressed in these papers. However, a general and systematic consideration of how and to what extent the Poisson's ratio affects the critical stretch of strips of different length to width ratios, L / B , was lacking. Accomplishing this task is the focus of this paper. Given the increasing use of auxetics, strips made from such materials are also being investigated. In addition, the occurrence of previously undiscovered mode transitions is shown. All results are presented in dimensionless form, which allows for fairly general usage. • Influence of Poisson ratio on buckling of stretched strips quantified and discussed. • So far unknown mode transition detected and explained. • Buckling of stretched strips made of auxetic materials – diagrams for buckling factor in dependence of Poisson ratio. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The flowing, jamming, and avalanche behavior of granular materials is satisfyingly universal and vexingly hard to tune: A granular flow is typically intermittent and will irremediably jam if too confined. Here, we show that granular metamaterials made from particles with a negative Poisson's ratio yield more easily and flow more smoothly than ordinary granular materials. We first create a collection of auxetic grains based on a re-entrant mechanism and show that each grain exhibits a negative Poisson's ratio regardless of the direction of compression. Interestingly, we find that the elastic and yielding properties are governed by the high compressibility of granular metamaterials: At a given confinement, they exhibit lower shear modulus, lower yield stress, and more frequent, smaller avalanches than materials made from ordinary grains. We further demonstrate that granular metamaterials promote flow in more complex confined geometries, such as intruder and hopper geometries, even when the packing contains only a fraction of auxetic grains. Moreover, auxetic granular metamaterials exhibit enhanced impact absorption. Our findings blur the boundary between complex fluids and metamaterials and could help in scenarios that involve process, transport, and reconfiguration of granular materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Auxetics are materials, metamaterials or structures which expand laterally in at least one cross-sectional plane when uniaxially stretched, that is, have a negative Poisson's ratio. Over these last decades, these systems have been studied through various methods, including simulations through finite elements analysis (FEA). This simulation tool is playing an increasingly significant role in the study of materials and structures as a result of the availability of more advanced and user-friendly commercially available software and higher computational power at more reachable costs. This review shows how, in the last three decades, FEA proved to be an essential key tool for studying auxetics, their properties, potential uses and applications. It focuses on the use of FEA in recent years for the design and optimisation of auxetic systems, for the simulation of how they behave when subjected to uniaxial stretching or compression, typically with a focus on identifying the deformation mechanism which leads to auxetic behaviour, and/or, for the simulation of their characteristics and behaviour under different circumstances such as impacts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The subject of the work is analysis, which presents a renowned auxetic structure based on so-called rotating polygons, which has been subject to modification. This modification entails introducing pivot points on unit cell surfaces near rectangle corners. This innovative system reveals previously unexplored correlations between Poisson's ratio, the ratio of rectangle side lengths, pivot point placement, and structural opening. Formulas have been derived using geometric relationships to compute the structure's linear dimensions and Poisson's ratio. The obtained findings suggest that Poisson's ratio is intricately tied to the structure's opening degree, varying as the structure undergoes stretching. Notably, there are critical parameter limits beyond which Poisson's ratio turns positive, leading to the loss of auxetic properties. For elongated rectangles, extremely high negative Poisson's ratio values are obtained, but only for small opening angles, while with further stretching, the structure loses its auxetic properties. This observed trend is consistent across a broad category of structures comprised of rotating rectangles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• An efficient DNN-based design framework for functionally graded lattices is established. • Functionally graded lattices are designed using the framework, fabricated using addictive manufacturing, and evaluated using experimental tests. • The effectiveness of the design framework is demonstrated with the performances of the functionally graded lattices. • This work is inspirable to promote advanced structures/materials with tailored properties. Auxetic materials with counterintuitive negative Poisson's ratio have been of significant interest due to potential applications across diverse engineering fields. Functionally grading such auxetics further enables customization of the structural response and harnesses the potential for multi-functional applications. However, a critical challenge in designing functionally graded lattices is to efficiently determine the spatial variation of the functional gradient and the corresponding geometric designs to achieve the desired response. In this paper, a highly efficient deep learning-based inverse design framework for functionally graded tetra-petal auxetics with spatially tailored properties is presented. This framework significantly improves the efficiency of tailoring functionally graded auxetics where many unit cells need to be tailor-designed. The graded tetra-petal auxetics obtained from the inverse design framework are additively manufactured and subjected to impact tests. The results show superior impact performance compared with uniform designs, demonstrating the effectiveness of the proposed inverse design framework, which can be inspirable to promote advanced structures/materials with enhanced impact resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Deflection behaviour of existing auxetic re-entrant beams compared with traditional beam designs. • Overlooked factors of placement and orientation of auxetic clusters utilized for enhancement. • Two new improved auxetic beam designs proposed with minimal deflection and 64% reduction in material. • Usefulness of the proposed designs brought out by application into lightweight foot bridge design. Auxetic materials have gained popularity in engineering applications owing to their unique deformation response mechanism. However, they have not been exploited to their full potential in engineering load bearing applications. The current paper, therefore, is focused on exploring and improving the deflection behaviour of auxetic beam structures. Initially, a single re-entrant unit cell and an array of auxetic clusters are modelled using Finite Element Method (FEM). These numerical models are then verified for its Poisson's ratio and deflection behaviour using theoretical formulations. Subsequently, in the next phase, a comparison of the deflection characteristics of the in-use common beams with that of the conventional auxetic beam design is carried out. Much overlooked factors such as orientation and placements of auxetic clusters are introduced in beam designs and are exploited to improve the deflection characteristics of conventional auxetic beams. Through this assessment, the paper proposes two novel design concepts of Oriented Re-entrant Structures (ORS) and Assorted Re-entrant Structures (ARS) for improved load bearing response. Novel designs of ORS and ARS beams are observed to perform significantly better than the conventional auxetic and honeycomb beams. The newly proposed beam designs exhibit a 64% reduction in mass in comparison to the homogeneous beam. The usefulness of these designs are brought out by introducing the ARS auxetic beams into a real-world lightweight foot bridge design. The bridge designs with ARS cross beams demonstrates a better behaviour in comparison to the bridge designs with conventional cross beams in terms of both deformation and material usage. This work highlights the potential use of unconventional mechanical metamaterial structures in engineering load bearing problems to address the demands of green engineering and sustainability without compromising on its structural integrity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Production of piezo‐resistive auxetic sensors is usually carried out through mixing and coating methods. Although these methods are beneficial, Young's modulus of mixed sensors becomes high because of using a high percentage of sensing elements while the durability of coated sensors gets low due to the separation of sensing elements from the sensor surface. This article presents a new core–shell metamaterial model to address the mentioned problems. The shell and the core are produced of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) rubber and a mixture of PDMS/graphite powders (73.45 wt% graphite powders), respectively. A finite element model is developed via COMSOL software to predict the electromechanical behaviors of the created sensor and verified by an experimental study. Scanning electron microscope imaging is conducted to detect the separations of the graphite particles. The main important feature of this meta‐sensor is to possess a linear sensitivity due to having zero Poisson's ratio. The advantage of this method is that Young's modulus of the sensor does not decrease (unlike the mixing method), and the sensor‐coated particles do not separate from the sensor after a while (unlike the coating method). The introduced model has advantages that promote potential applications such as using sensory gloves to detect, for instance, human hand movements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Auxetic structures provide an interesting approach to solving engineering problems due to their negative Poisson's ratio, which allows for elongation perpendicular to applied stresses, opposite to a conventional structure's necking behavior. Thus, they can function well in applications requiring compacting the device into a small volume during the deployment (e.g., implants inserted with catheters) or stretchability with area coverage (e.g., stretchable electronics). Fabricating them with shape memory alloys (SMAs) expands the possibilities. The high strains experienced by auxetic structures may become reversible compared to ordinary metals due to superelastic or shape memory effect. This work studies four different auxetic microstructures using thin film SMAs that are capable of surviving strains up to 57.4%. Since these structures are fabricated by layer deposition and lithography, other components, such as microelectronics, can be seamlessly integrated into the fabrication process. These auxetic thin films are investigated for their mechanical behavior under tension for their stretchability and stability. Under tension, thin films are known to show wrinkling instabilities. In two of four designs, the large auxetic behavior leads to wrinkling, while the other two display stable, non‐wrinkling behavior. These designs can be candidates for stretchable electronics, wearable medical devices (e.g., biosensors), or implants (e.g., stents). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study proposed a novel continuous roll-forming process of elastomer molds, which can control the deformation of the mold using the rolling belt stack combination method. This study analyzed various rolling belt combinations, assembled the system based on simulation and experimental data according to the deformation requirement design, and obtained a controllable microstructure mold rolling belt with tensile deformation. Mold thickness and microstructure size are key microstructure mold deformation parameters. This study designed and assembled a controllable microstructure mold rolling belt-type imprint molding system and conducted a series of experiments. The impact and application of different experimental system operation procedures and fabrication methods of the auxetic structure rolling belt on replication molding were analyzed. The innovative controllable microstructure mold rolling belt-type imprint replication molding technique proposed in this study had a stable and controllable mold deformation mechanism. It can control and replicate molding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the bending performances of sandwich panels with corrugated triangular, honeycomb, aluminum foam, pyramidal truss, double sine corrugated (DSC), and 3D re-entrant auxetic cores are assessed and compared, both experimentally and numerically. Three-point bending experiments were performed on corrugated, honeycomb, aluminum foam, and truss core sandwich panels with identical face-sheets and core height. The experimental and numerical results compared well for panels with corrugated, honeycomb and truss cores. Parametric studies were subsequently performed, using ABAQUS, and three distinct modes of deformation were identified. The specific energy absorption (SEA) of the panels was found to increase with the core relative density; the one with a honeycomb core will be shown to have the greatest SEA, for the same core relative density, compared to the rests. • Corrugated, honeycomb, foam, and truss sandwich panels were experimentally tested. • Parametric studies were conducted on panels with various types of cores. • The deformation and specific energy absorption of sandwich panels were compared. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An auxetic metamaterial based on a semirotation system is designed herein by combining rigid units of two different shapes, such that each unit cell consists of one nonrotating rhombus and four rotating right triangles. The on‐axes Poisson's ratios are obtained for both infinitesimal and finite deformations by geometrical consideration. The on‐axes Young's moduli of this metamaterial are established by matching the spring potential energy stored at the hinged joints with the strain energy of deformation for the homogenized continuum of the metamaterial. Plotted results describe the interlacing effect of the shape descriptor, the original separation angles, and the change in the separation angle on the on‐axes Poisson's ratio and Young's modulus. The latter is directly proportional to the equivalent spring stiffness per unit cell. In addition to attaining auxetic behavior, this metamaterial can also be designed to achieve specific Young's modulus behavior including extreme stiffness in one of the directions either at infinitesimal or finite deformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cellular solids whose ligaments are made of two distinct materials are constructed for studying their auxeticity and negative thermal expansion via 2D models with the methodology of finite‐element numerical analysis. Three bimaterial cellular models with various radii of ligament curvature (Rc = 5, 8, 11 cm) are analyzed. It is found that when the ligaments comprise aluminum and titanium alloy with Rc = 5 cm, the cellular solid exhibits simultaneous negative effective Poisson's ratio (−0.418) and negative thermal expansion coefficient (−20.82 × 10−6 K−1). When the radius of ligament curvature increases, auxeticity is less pronounced. Positive and negative thermal expansion can be tuned solely by the coefficients of thermal expansion of ligaments' constituents. Furthermore, smaller radii of curvature give rise to larger negative thermal expansion. In addition, modulus mismatch in the bimaterial ligament can be used to tune overall properties. Our findings herein may serve as foundations for the future quantitative design of such cellular materials. In addition, effective Poisson's ratio and coefficient of thermal expansion can be positively or negatively enhanced due to the interplay between the positive and negative phases. Interactions between negative stiffness and larger curvatures may make the system less unstable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dependence of the elastic properties of monatomic (simple substances) and diatomic (AB type compounds) crystals of the cubic syngony on the types of their crystal structure and interatomic bond is analyzed. It is shown that the elastic properties of these crystals follow one of two trends, covalent or ionic. The auxetics (materials with a negative Poisson's ratio) are identified among monatomic crystals with the A1 structure (fcc), such as to alkaline earth, transition and post-transition metals, actinides, and lanthanides, as well as among monatomic crystals with the A2 structure (bcc), such as to alkali metals. Among binary diatomic compounds, the largest number of auxetics is found among diamond-like crystals with the B3 structure (zinc blende) and stoichiometry ANB8–N. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents an analysis of rotating rigid unit (RRU) auxetic structures, the special property of which is negative Poisson’s ratio. The crucial features of such modified structures are the well-functioning linkages of the square units at their pivot points. This ensures the stable functioning of such structures in tension or compression. The presented geometrical analysis of these auxetic structures may facilitate their adequate construction and allow one to determine the expected values of their expansion as well as the desired porosity. The results are confirmed based on the behaviour of physical models produced by the assembly of square units. The change in the dimensions of the physical models when moving from a closed to an open position is consistent with the predictions of the geometric models. By modifying the well-known ‘rotating squares’ model, physical structures with auxetic properties are obtained that can be utilised in industrial conditions, where a simultaneous change of linear dimensions is needed—either in compression or in tension. The assembly method may prove efficient in building such structures, given the abilities of assembly robots to regularly arrange the unit cells in lines and rows and to connect them with rings at the designated positions (evenly spaced perforations). The presented auxetic structures might find their potential application in, e.g., expansion joints or structures in which the porosity is mechanically changed, such as mesoscale structures. The tested structures subjected to high compressive forces buckle when the yield strength of the rigid unit material is exceeded.

The influence of periodically distributed inclusions on elastic properties of crystals in which particles interact through Yukawa potential is discussed briefly. The inclusions in the form of channels oriented along the [001]-direction and layers orthogonal to the [010]-direction are considered. Monte Carlo simulations have shown that, depending on the type of inclusion and the concentration of inclusion particles in Yukawa crystal, qualitative changes in elastic properties occur. In selected directions, one observes appearance of auxetic properties for systems with nanolayers and enhancement of auxeticity for systems with nanochannels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Auxetic materials, i.e. materials exhibiting negative Poisson's ratio, stand to answer the demand for novel materials with unique and application-tailored properties. The vast range of potential applications motivates researchers to search for new materials with such properties, or to look for ways to modify the properties of existing materials. The study of systems with structural inclusions falls into the latter category. This work reports numerical investigations of elastic properties of hard sphere f.c.c. crystal. The investigations have been focused on Monte Carlo simulations of systems with arrays of inclusions filled by hard spheres of different diameter, resulting in binary systems, i.e. systems composed of two kinds of particles that differ only in size. Two different layouts of narrow nanoinclusions have been studied in the isobaricisothermal ensemble. It has been shown that even the narrowest inclusions can significantly alter elastic properties of hard particle crystal by eliminating auxetic properties while maintaining the effective cubic symmetry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Effectiveness of re-entrant auxetic structure under close-in and far-field blasts. • Evaluation of protective efficacy of auxetic honeycomb-core sandwich panel. • Performance comparison with equivalent conventional honeycomb. This paper aims to scrutinise the effectiveness of a re-entrant auxetic honeycomb-core sandwich panel (AHSP) to protect reinforced concrete (RC) slab under close-in and far-field detonations of high explosive. A series of quarter symmetric 3D comprehensive numerical models were developed by using Arbitrary Lagrangian Eulerian (ALE) formulation in LS-DYNA hydrocode. Strain rate effects of the rate sensitive materials were employed in the model to consider dynamic behaviour of the materials during blast loading. The developed numerical model was validated with the documented experimental results. Deformation patterns, energy absorption, overpressure damping, blast pressure deflection, and stress-transmission to the protected structure were investigated with the computational models. Furthermore, the performance of AHSP sacrificial protective structure was compared with an equivalent areal density conventional honeycomb-core sandwich panel (CHSP) structure. The results showed that AHSP not only absorbed higher blast energy but also acted as a pressure deflector by forming a densified concave depression under close-in blast load. AHSP damped higher magnitude of blast overpressure in both close-in and far-field blasts. Moreover, a uniform redistribution of the stress on the protected structure was observed with AHSP protection. The overall response of AHSP was found to be better than CHSP to protect the RC slab. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Novel auxetic topology computation with an objective of energy absorption maximisation for the first time. • Derivation of analytical design parameters of the novel auxetic structures with consideration of fabrication practicality. • Examination of mechanical properties and energy absorption of the developed auxetic structures to evaluate protective performance based on peak elastic stress, plateau stress, onset of the densification strain and energy absorption capability. This paper aims to develop lightweight high-performance auxetic structures for protective applications such as blast and impact energy absorption. In this study, novel auxetic topologies were computed with an objective of energy absorption maximisation through the topology optimisation method. Analytical design formulations with the consideration of fabrication practicality were derived for the novel auxetic structures; named as the hourglass structure (HGS), braced cross-petal structure (BCPS) and cross-petal structure (CPS). Based on the formulated design parameters, rectangular scaffolds of each structure were designed to investigate bulk mechanical properties and energy absorption under a compressive load. Validated nonlinear finite element (FE) models developed in LS-DYNA FE code were used to examine the mechanical performance of the novel structures. The FE simulations revealed the deformation mechanism, negative Poisson's ratio, stress-strain behaviour and energy absorption. The protective performances of the developed auxetic structure were evaluated with respect to the peak elastic stress, plateau stress, onset of the densification strain and energy absorption capacity. The HGS outperformed the other structures in term of the protective performance. In addition, comparison of specific energy absorption at the onset of densification showed that the HGS, BCPS and CPS possessed superior energy absorption capacities than the conventional auxetic structures. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]