Partial auxetic behavior of 3D mesh fabric under compression

The 3D mesh fabric is a key component of automotive seat ventilation systems as it has good compression resistance and creates channels to provide effective circulating airflow. The dimensional inconsistency of fabric sheets by laser cutting to be integrated into car seats and their unrecoverable dimension changes in subsequent cushioning applications are challenging problems. A typical commercialized 3D mesh fabric was observed to shorten and widen under compression, showing an auxetic behavior in the length–thickness section. This counterintuitive partial auxetic behavior accounts for the dimensional variation. A full-size finite element (FE) model of the fabric was established to simulate the complex fabric deformation based on the precise geometry of a unit cell obtained by X-ray micro-computed tomography (μCT) scanning. The FE simulation reproduced the planar dimension change process of the fabric. The underlying mechanism of partial auxeticity was revealed from the global to local analysis, including fabric global deformation, unit meshes deformation and unit cell geometric structure change. It was shown that buckling of initially post-buckled spacer monofilaments drives in-plane movements of monofilament loops to cause partial auxetic behavior. The partial auxeticity weakens in the compression process due to the gradual intercontact and densification of spacer monofilaments. Different constraints on monofilament loops from adjacent unit cells and multifilament inlays make the deformation uneven in the plane of fabric. It is important to fully analyze the dimensional change, especially the partial auxetic deformation, of the 3D mesh fabric under compression for its practical applications.