Negative linear compressibility of hexagonal honeycombs and related systems

Materials exhibiting negative linear compressibility display the very unusual and unexpected property of expanding in at least one direction when placed under compressive hydrostatic stress. Here, it is shown that this property may be manifested by systems having high positive Poisson's ratios (non-auxetic), including non re-entrant hexagonal honeycombs and wine-rack models where deformation primarily involves changes in the angles between the ribs of the structures. (C) 2011 Published by Elsevier Ltd. on behalf of Acta Materialia Inc.