Damage Tolerant Mechanisms of Natural Biomaterials for Design of Novel Engineered Bio-Inspired Composites

Abstract

Many natural lightweight biomaterials such as scales, horn, and skin are composed of layersof different structures that work together to impart properties such as strength, toughnessand/or tear-resistance. The purpose of this project is to understand how the molecularstructures that make up these layered biomaterials contribute to damage-tolerant properties.In this project, experimental platforms traditionally used to study dynamic mechanicalresponses of hard materials such as metals will be adapted to study dynamic mechanicalresponses of soft materials at a variety of length-scales. Material studies will becomplemented by imaging studies including high-speed photography, optical and electronmicroscopy, and microCT. Molecular components and their structural organizations that playroles in damage tolerance will be identified and used in collaborative modeling studies todesign new artificial materials with similar mechanical properties.

Document Details

Document Type
DoD Grant Award
Publication Date
May 02, 2017
Source ID
FA95501710214

Entities

People

  • Katherine A. Brown

Organizations

  • Air Force Office of Scientific Research
  • United States Air Force
  • University of Cambridge

Tags

Fields of Study

  • Materials science

Readers

  • Nanocomposite Materials Science
  • Structural Health Monitoring of Composite Structures.