Mechanical Response of Honeycomb Structures Under Impact

A honeycomb structure with a negative Poisson's ratio (NPR) was designed, fabricated, and analyzed for utilization in personal protective clothing (PPC). The mechanical properties were investigated using a quasi-static mechanical testing and the Hopkinson pressure bar experimental system, and results were compared with similar samples containing regular hexagonal and regular quadrilateral honeycomb structures. The experimental results showed that under quasi-static loadings, the concave honeycomb structure had the highest compressive modulus and yield strength, which produced the highest strain absorption energy, anti-deformation performance and energy absorption. When exposed to a dynamic load at a high strain rate, the concave honeycomb also exhibited the highest dynamic compression modulus, the best impact resistance and best energy absorption among the three structures. In summary, the concave honeycomb structure was more resistant to deformation and had higher impact resistance than the regular hexagonal and regular quadrilateral honeycombs, and exhibited better energy absorption, which makes it a good candidate for application as a personal safety protection material.