Experimental Study of Auxetic Structures Made of Re-Entrant ("Bow-Tie") Cells.

This article presents a study of metamaterial structures that exhibit auxetic properties. This unusual phenomenon of simultaneous orthogonal expansion of the metamaterial in tension, and vice versa in compression, with vertical and horizontal contraction, is explored for structures made of re-entrant unit cells. The geometry of such structures is analysed in detail, and the relationships are determined by the value of the Poisson's ratio. It is shown that the Poisson's ratio depends not only on the geometry of the unit cell but also on the degree of strain. Depending on the dimensions of the structure's horizontal and inclined struts, the limit values are determined for the angle between them. By creating physical structures made of re-entrant cells, it is demonstrated that the mechanism of change in the structure's dimensions is not due to the hinging but to the bending of the struts. The experimental section contains the results of compression tests of a symmetrical structure and tensile tests of a flat mesh structure. In the case of the mesh structure, a modification of the re-entrant cells was used to create arched strut joints. This modification makes it possible to obtain greater elongation of the mesh structure and larger NPR values.

An Experimental Study of Auxetic Tubular Structures.

Auxetic tubular structures are widely known structures, characterized by a negative Poisson's ratio upon stretching and deformation in the axial and transverse directions, which have numerous application possibilities. In this paper, tubular structures were realized by rolling up planar auxetic structures and using rigid square frames as unit cells. Planar and tubular structures were built from square frames that were 3D printed with plastic or laser-cut from metal. The changes in linear dimensions of the studied structures were based on a hinge mechanism, the functioning of which was experimentally verified on different solutions leading to square unit cells. To connect the square frames of the structure, an innovative solution was used in the form of rotation axes on their surface at a preset distance from the edge of the square frame. The geometric parameter thus introduced was used to determine the relative change in the size of the structure when stretched (i.e., when moving from the closed to the open position).

Dielectric and Impedance Studies of (Ba,Ca)TiO3 Ceramics Obtained from Mechanically Synthesized Powders.

Mechanochemical synthesis offers unique possibility of perovskite phase formation at ambient conditions that is very attractive (simplifies production, allows strict stoichiometry control and brings economic benefits). In this work the mechanochemical synthesis has been used for preparation ofBa1-xCaxTiO3 (0.2 ≤ x ≤ 0.3) powders from simple oxides. The 20 h milled powders have been uniaxially pressed and sintered in order to get the ceramic samples. The sample morphologies have been observed by scanning electron microscopy. Dielectric and impedance studies have been performed on ceramics. The obtained results indicate that the two mechanism of doping occurred. The first one is observed for the lower calcium concentration (below 0.3) and consists of the introduction of calcium ion into the A site of the perovskite structure. The second one is observed for the higher calcium concentration (equal 0.3). In this case the calcium ions partially occupies the B site in the perovskite structure. Both cases have different influence on the final properties of the ceramics because they induce different defects.