Novel Cellular Structures and Sandwich Materials
F4-J

Download the 2012 Project Report

We investigated the mechanical behavior of two-dimensional hierarchical honeycomb structures using analytical, numerical and experimental methods. Hierarchical honeycombs are con­structed by replacing every three-edge vertex of a regular hexagonal lattice with a smaller hexagon. Repeating this process builds a fractal-appearing structure. The stiffness and strength of this struc­ture is controlled by the iteration of dimensional ratios for different hierarchical orders. Hierarchical honeycombs of the first and second order can be up to 2 and 3.5 times stiffer than regular honeycombs at the same mass (i.e., same overall average density). The specific strength (based on plastic collapse) of the hierarchical honeycomb structures is similar to that of regular honeycomb structures.

Our results could help better understand the behavior and function of engineered and biological cellular materials, and develop a new class of energy absorbent cellular structures.
F4-J Project Overview: ALERT Year 4 Annual Report
Project Leader

  • Ashkan Vaziri
    Professor
    Northeastern University
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Faculty and Staff Currently Involved in Project

  • Jim Papadopoulos
    Associate Research Scientist
    Northeastern University
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Students Currently Involved in Project
  • Amin Ajdari
    Northeastern University
  • Hamid Ebrahimi
    Northeastern University