Iranian Journal of  Manufacturing Engineering

Iranian Journal of Manufacturing Engineering

Experimental investigation of bending behavior of sandwich structures with auxetic core made of biodegradable materials

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran
Abstract
The use of biodegradable materials in the design and construction of engineering structures has attracted significant attention as an effective approach to reducing environmental pollution and enhancing mechanical sustainability. This study investigates the flexural behavior of sandwich panels with auxetic cores made of polylactic acid (PLA). These cores were fabricated using 3D printing technology to achieve precise control over their geometry and cellular dimensions. Additionally, balsa wood sheets were used as face sheets to optimize the strength-to-weight ratio and minimize environmental impact. To conduct a comprehensive evaluation, four-point bending and tensile tests were performed on the specimens to assess the effect of geometric parameters, including the shape and size of the auxetic core cells, on strength, energy absorption, and structural stability. The experimental results indicated that auxetic cores including re-entrant designs exhibit superior performance in terms of strength and energy absorption compared to non-auxetic structures such as honeycomb designs. Furthermore, it was found that increasing the core cell dimensions without adding extra weight enhances both strength and energy absorption capacity. The findings of this study suggest that incorporating biodegradable materials in the design of auxetic structures not only reduces environmental impact but also improves their mechanical performance. These results provide a foundation for future research in the development of lightweight and efficient structural designs.
Keywords

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