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Competing energy absorption and shape recovery in 3D-printed composite meta-honeycombs under cyclic compression
File(s)
Author(s)
Lu, Peng-Xu
Dear, James
Burnett, Clare
Guan, Zhongwei
Kazanci, Zafer
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
This study investigates the cyclic compressive behavior of 3D-printed composite meta-honeycombs, focusing on the trade-off between energy absorption and shape recovery. Three configurations, hexagonal (HEX), auxetic re-entrant (ARE), and double arrow-head (DAH), were fabricated using Nylon and Onyx and tested under quasi-static cyclic compression in both in-plane and out-of-plane directions. Key metrics, including specific energy absorption (SEA), undulation of load-carrying capacity (ULC), shape recovery ratio (SRR), and energy dissipation ratio (EDR), were used to quantify repeatable energy absorption and recovery performance. Results reveal a pronounced competition between crashworthiness and recoverability. Fiber reinforcement enhances stiffness, strength, and SEA but reduces shape recovery, highlighting a material-level trade-off. SEA is generally higher under out-of-plane loading, while in-plane SRR is 25-35 % greater than the out-of-plane SRR, showing strong sensitivity to loading direction. Cyclic compression at different deformation stages leads to stage-dependent degradation, with SEA reductions of approximately 10 %, 50 %, and 100 % during the elastic, plateau, and densification stages, respectively. Finite element simulations elucidate configuration-dependent deformation mechanisms and support the experimental observations. This study establishes the universality of the trade-off across material systems, topologies, loading directions, cyclic stages, and provides quantitative insights for designing reusable energy-absorbing honeycomb structures.
Date Issued
2026-06-01
Date Acceptance
2026-03-07
Citation
Thin-Walled Structures, 2026, 225 (Part A)
URI
URL
DOI
ISSN
0263-8231
Publisher
Elsevier
Journal / Book Title
Thin-Walled Structures
Volume
225
Issue
Part A
Copyright Statement
Copyright © 2026 Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is the author’s accepted manuscript made available under a CC-BY licence in accordance with Imperial’s Research Publications Open Access policy (www.imperial.ac.uk/oa-policy)
License URL
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
114786
Date Publish Online
2026-03-07