Program Overview

Introduction to the Additive Manufacturing and Characterization of Auxetic Structures Faculty

The Additive Manufacturing and Characterization of Auxetic Structures Faculty is a research-focused program that explores the unique properties of auxetic materials. These materials exhibit negative Poisson's ratios, meaning they expand transversally while being stretched longitudinally. This distinctive mechanical behavior has various application potentials, including aerospace structures, energy absorption, and biomaterial engineering.

Research Objectives

The primary objective of this project is to establish a framework for rationally designing, manufacturing, and characterizing auxetic structures. The research tasks include:

• Optimizing stereolithography (SLA) 3D printing process to manufacture designed auxetic structures using different UV-curable resins, including brittle polymers and elastomers
  • Investigating the properties of various UV-curable resins
  • Developing optimized printing protocols for auxetic structures
• Conducting mechanical tests on 3D printed structures
  • Evaluating the mechanical properties of printed auxetic structures
  • Analyzing the effects of printing parameters on structural performance
• Quantifying the achieved Poisson's ratios and analyzing the stress distribution in the structures using digital image correlation technique
  • Developing methods for accurate Poisson's ratio measurement
  • Investigating stress distribution patterns in auxetic structures
• Performing linear and non-linear finite element analysis to computationally characterize the structural performance and compare with initial design as well as experimental measurements
  • Developing finite element models for auxetic structures
  • Validating computational results with experimental data

Research Environment

Students participating in this program will have the opportunity to work with Dr. Wang's research group and computational mechanics experts. This collaborative environment will provide students with a comprehensive research experience, combining theoretical design, additive manufacturing, and experimental characterization of auxetic structures.