Curved Kirigami SILICOMB cellular structures with zero Poisson’s ratio for large deformations and morphing

Abstract

The work describes the design, manufacturing, and parametric modeling of a curved cellular structure (SILICOMB) with zero Poisson’s ratio produced using Kirigami techniques from polyetheretherketone films. The large deformation behavior of the cellular structure is evaluated using full-scale finite element methods and experimental tests performed on the cellular samples. Good agreement is observed between the mechanical behavior predicted by the finite element modeling and the three-point bending compression tests. Finite element simulations have also been used to perform a parametric analysis of the stiffness against the geometry of the cellular structures, showing a high degree of tailoring that these cellular structures could offer in terms of minimum relative density and maximum stiffness. The experimental results also show high levels of strain-dependent loss factors and low residual deformations after cyclic large deformation loading.