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Bioinspired micro-composite structure

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 March 2011

L. Chen ,
R. Ballarini ,
H. Kahn  and
A.H. Heuer
L. Chen
Affiliation:
Department of Civil Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio 44106-7201
R. Ballarini*
Affiliation:
Department of Civil Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio 44106-7201
H. Kahn
Affiliation:
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio 44106
A.H. Heuer
Affiliation:
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio 44106
*
a) Address all correspondence to this author. Present address: Department of Civil Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455. e-mail: broberto@umn.edu
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Abstract

This paper presents the design, fabrication, and mechanical testing of a bioinspired composite structure with characteristic dimensions on the order of tens of microns. The microarchitecture, designed and fabricated using microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) technology, involves two distinct length scales and represents the first attempt at mimicking the crossed-lamellar microstructure of molluscan shells such as the giant Queen conch, Strombus gigas, which contains features with dimensions spanning five distinct length scales. The displacement control capabilities of a nanoindenter enabled the observation of the graceful failure of the micro-composite under three point bending and, in turn, the measurement of its post-peak load–displacement response and work of fracture.

Keywords

BiomimeticMicrostructureMicroelectro-mechanical (MEMS)
Type
Articles
Information
Journal of Materials Research , Volume 22 , Issue 1 , January 2007 , pp. 124 - 131
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2007

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References

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