Hostname: page-component-54dcc4c588-mz6gc Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-09-12T11:35:31.581Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

A Macroscale Biomimetic Composite Duplicating the DeformationMechanisms of Nacre

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 March 2011

Deju Zhu  and
Francois Barthelat
Deju Zhu
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanical Engineering, McGill University 817 Sherbrooke Street West, Montreal, QC H3A 2K6, Canada
Francois Barthelat
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanical Engineering, McGill University 817 Sherbrooke Street West, Montreal, QC H3A 2K6, Canada
Get access

Abstract

This article presents the first man-made material based on the structure ofnacre that successfully duplicates the mechanism of tablet sliding. Thismaterial was made of millimeter size PMMA tablets arranged in columns andheld by fasteners. Strain hardening was provided by tablet waviness,delaying localization and leading to strains at failure 3-5 times greaterthan bulk PMMA. Analytical and finite element models successfully capturedthe locking mechanisms, enabling a rigorous design and optimization ofsimilar composites based on different materials or at different lengthscales. This work demonstrates how key features and mechanisms in naturalnacre can be successfully harnessed in engineering materials. Interestingly,the development of this model material and of its associated models alsounveiled two new mechanisms, the effect of free surfaces and “unzipping”.Both mechanisms may be relevant to natural materials such as nacre orbone.

Keywords

biomimetic (assembly)compositestress/strain relationship

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Article purchase

Temporarily unavailable

References

REFERENCES

1. Barthelat, F.: Biomimetics for next generation materials. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society a-Mathematical Physical and Engineering Sciences 365, 2907 (2007).Google Scholar
2. Wegst, U.G.K. and Ashby, M.F.: The mechanical efficiency of natural materials.Google Scholar
3. Barthelat, F.: Nacre from mollusk shells: a model for high-performance structural materials. Bioinspiration & Biomimetics 5, 1 (2010).Google Scholar
4. Currey, J.D.: Mechanical properties of mother of pearl in tension. Proc. R. Soc. London B Biol. Sci. 196, 443 (1977).Google Scholar
5. Schaeffer, T.E., Ionescu-Zanetti, C., Proksch, R., Fritz, M., Walters, D.A., Almqvist, N., Zaremba, C.M., Belcher, A.M., Smith, B.L., Stucky, G.D., Morse, D. E., and Hansma, P.K.: Does abalone nacre form by heteroepitaxial nucleation or by growth through mineral bridges? Chemistry of Materials 9, 1731 (1997).Google Scholar
6. Tang, Z.Y., Kotov, N.A., Magonov, S., and Ozturk, B.: Nanostructured artificial nacre. Nature Materials 2, 413 (2003).Google Scholar
7. Bonderer, L.J., Studart, A.R., and Gauckler, L.J.: Bioinspired design and assembly of platelet reinforced polymer films. Science 319, 1069 (2008).Google Scholar
8. Munch, E., Launey, M.E., Alsem, D.H., Saiz, E., Tomsia, A.P., Ritchie, R.O.: Tough, bio-inspired hybrid materials. Science 322, 1516 (2008).Google Scholar