Deformation Mechanisms of Soft and Natural Biomaterials for Design of Novel Engineered Bio inspired Composites

Abstract

Many natural lightweight biomaterials such as scales, horn, and skin are composed of layers of different structures that work together to impart properties such as strength, toughness and-or tear resistance. The purpose of this project is to understand how the molecular structures that make up these layered biomaterials contribute to damage tolerant properties. In this project, experimental platforms traditionally used to study dynamic mechanical responses of hard materials such as metals will be adapted to study dynamic mechanical responses of soft materials at a variety of length scales. Material studies will be complemented by imaging studies including high speed photography, optical and electron microscopy, and helium ion microscopy. Molecular components and their structural organizations that play roles in damage tolerance will be identified and used in collaborative modeling studies to design new artificial materials with similar mechanical properties.

Document Details

Document Type
DoD Grant Award
Publication Date
Jan 14, 2022
Source ID
FA95501917006

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

  • Distributed Systems and Data Platform Development
  • Nanocomposite Materials Science
  • Structural Health Monitoring of Composite Structures.

Technology Areas

  • Microelectronics