Auxetic Structure and a Method for Manufacturing an Auxetic Structure

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This patent describes a new type of auxetic structure—a material with a negative Poisson's ratio, meaning it becomes wider when stretched—that incorporates local variations in its pattern of cuts or openings. Unlike previous regular auxetic patterns, this design allows precise control of the deformation, enabling the creation of unique, predefined 3D shapes from initially flat (or non-flat) materials. It also outlines processes for manufacturing these structures, including multi-layered auxetic matrices, which can be used for producing complex geometric forms, particularly for construction, reinforcement, and special functional or decorative components.

Use CasesContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Formwork and reinforcement in complex concrete structures or shell structures in architecture and civil engineering
• Metal facades or decorative building elements with controlled patterns and curvature
• Production of lightweight composite parts for vehicles such as cars, motorbikes, ships, aircraft, or wind turbines
• Fluid flow systems requiring tailored porosity or shape control
• Textiles for fashion or technical uses that need adaptive geometry
• Furniture design with highly customized double-curved surfaces
• Sporting goods and equipment demanding unique mechanical performance or aesthetics
• Molds for shaping materials in manufacturing processes

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Enables cost-effective, precise creation of complex 3D shapes from flat materials, reducing or eliminating the need for traditional formwork
• Allows encoding of structural, topological, and material information directly into the 2D pattern, simplifying digital-to-physical workflows
• Supports lightweight yet strong reinforcement for concrete and composite components, improving material efficiency
• Provides high flexibility in design, allowing custom control of porosity, curvature, and structural performance at both global and local levels
• Can be manufactured with standard processes (like laser cutting or punching), facilitating scalable and rapid production
• Facilitates innovative aesthetic effects and functional surfaces in architecture, automotive, and consumer product design
• Permits multi-layering, expanding potential for watertightness, enhanced reinforcement, or hybrid properties
• Reversible or programmable deformation can enable adaptive or reconfigurable structures

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Inventors & Applicants

Patent Abstract

Auxetic structure comprising material elements in a pattern with openings between the material elements, wherein the structure in a planar and / or nonplanar position comprises at least one local variation from a regular pattern of the material elements and / or a regular pattern of the openings, so that when spatially deformed, at least some openings in the structure are locally stretchable into polygonal openings, free-from opening and / or openings with curved parts forming a spatial, grid-shaped pattern or a grid-shaped matrix.