Design of small auxetic springs for furniture

•New constructions of small auxetic springs were developed.•Numerical calculation was made.•Their stiffness was compared with the stiffness of physical springs.•Springs have a high negative Poisson’s ratio.•That solution can be used in seats of office furniture.

Auxetic structures, due to their negative Poisson’s ratios, should have a positive effect on the comfort of using seating furniture. The aim of this study was to develop numerical models of auxetic compression springs suitable for seat structures of office and home furniture. Analyses were conducted on real and numerical models of different spring structures having concave cell walls, subjected to uniaxial compression. By changing the modulus of elasticity for the material of the frame and geometry of the internal structure non-linear characteristics of rigidity and negative Poisson’s ratios were established for designed springs. Based on numerical calculations structures best adapted to provide functionality for to the seats of resting and work furniture were identified.