Ballistic impact analysis on an auxetic panel realized by additive manufacturing

Impact resistance is crucial for applications exposed to high-speed collisions with projectiles, debris, or birds, such as helicopter components designed to block incoming projectiles in military scenarios. This study explores the potential of additive manufacturing to revolutionize helicopter door panel design by incorporating Negative Poisson Ratio (NPR) cells for superior energy absorption. The use of auxetic structures, characterized by their unusual mechanical properties, enables the development of a single-piece panel with a simplified construction and enhanced impact resistance. Additive manufacturing allows for the fabrication of complex structures with geometries that would be impossible or extremely challenging to create using conventional manufacturing techniques. By leveraging this advanced manufacturing technology, the study delves into the optimization of NPR cell configurations, resulting in improved energy absorption and impact performance. This innovative combination of advanced materials and manufacturing techniques holds promise for significantly improving the safety and performance of helicopters, particularly in demanding military applications, while minimizing weight penalties and manufacturing complexity