Real-world applications of auxetic structures in engineering: A review

Auxetic materials, characterised by negative Poisson ratio,offer promising potential for a range of practical applications in engineering. While extensive research focuses on laboratory-scale auxetic samples for material characterisation and are valuable to improve the basic understanding of auxetic materials, such studies often discuss applications only in broad terms.In contrast, a growing body of work demonstrates the integration of auxetic behaviour into specific engineering designs aimed at solving defined real-world problems This second group is particularly valuable to a applied researchers, engineers and industry stakeholders as it demonstrates direct impact on everyday life, economic benefits, business opportunities. To address this gap in the review of auxetic structures, this paper aims to achieve a clear identification of the these applied studies. Our methodology involved a comprehensive review of research on auxetic materials, with a focus on studies that: (i) define a specific problem, (ii) target a clear application area, and (iii) present a solution with concrete design characteristics. The findings highlight a rise in real-world applications of auxetics, notably in aerospace and defence, construction, protective equipment, automotive systems, and sensor technologies.