Objectives  This papers aims to analyze the impact resistance of honeycomb structure with different Poisson's ratio.

  Methods  Based on the explicit dynamic finite element method, this paper analyzes the dynamic mechanical properties of honeycomb structures with different Poisson's ratios under in-plane impact load, and explores the influence laws of Poisson's ratios on their impact resistance. Three typical honeycomb structures with negative/zero/positive Poisson's ratios (reentrant hexagon, hexagon and semi-reentrant hexagon) are selected, their geometric parameters are changed to give them the same relative density and different Poisson's ratios (−2.76 – +3.63), and their dynamic mechanical properties under low/medium/high-speed dynamic displacement loads are analyzed.

  Results  The results show that the zero Poisson's ratio semi-reentrant honeycomb structure has the best structural stability without transverse deformation under compression deformation; without structural instability, the platform stress has little correlation with the Poisson's ratio; and the compact strain and total energy absorbtion increases with the absolute value of the Poisson's ratio. Negative Poisson's ratio honeycomb structures with large t/l and small θ are suitable for applications with high platform stress (strong deformation resistance), and negative Poisson's ratio honeycomb structures with small t/l and small θ are suitable for high total energy absorbtion applications, while zero Poisson's ratio semi-reentrant honeycomb structures are suitable for applications with high platform stress (strong deformation resistance).

  Conclusions  This study can provide references for the type selection and geometric parameter design of side impact honeycomb structures .