Energy Absorption Evaluation of Auxetic Structure on Leading Edge Using Polycarbonate 3D Printing in Quasi-Static Lateral Load Test

Abstract

This study evaluates the energy absorption capability of 3D-printed polycarbonate auxetic structures applied to the
leading edge of an aircraft. Three configurations were tested: triangle (A), half circle (B), and rectangle (C), through
quasi-static lateral load tests with key parameters: energy absorption (EA), specific energy absorption (SEA), initial
peak force (IPF), mean force (MF), and crush force efficiency (CFE). The test results show that the triangle structure
(A) excels with an EA of 99.08 J, IPF of 40.41 Kn, MF ranging from 12.30 to 13.03 Kn, CFE of 34.078 Kn, and SEA
of 1.738 J/kg. The half circle structure (B) shows a significant improvement in the second test, while the rectangle (C)
tends to be stable but declining. Compared to the conventional honeycomb (EA ~59 J, IPF 6–8 Kn, MF 3–4 Kn), the
triangle structure increases energy absorption by up to 68% and provides an initial resistance 5–6 times greater. These
findings demonstrate the potential of auxetic structures, particularly the triangle geometry, as an innovative design to
enhance the crashworthiness of aircraft leading edges.