title: Bio-inspired impact-resistant composites.
abstract: Through evolutionary processes, biological composites have been optimized to fulfil specific functions. This optimization is exemplified in the mineralized dactyl club of the smashing predator stomatopod (specifically, Odontodactylus scyllarus). This crustacean's club has been designed to withstand the thousands of high-velocity blows that it delivers to its prey. The endocuticle of this multiregional structure is characterized by a helicoidal arrangement of mineralized fiber layers, an architecture which results in impact resistance and energy absorbance. Here, we apply the helicoidal design strategy observed in the stomatopod club to the fabrication of high-performance carbon fiber-epoxy composites. Through experimental and computational methods, a helicoidal architecture is shown to reduce through-thickness damage propagation in a composite panel during an impact event and result in an increase in toughness. These findings have implications in the design of composite parts for aerospace, automotive and armor applications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA.
authors.forename: L K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Grunenfelder
authors.affiliation: School of Civil Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Suksangpanya
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Salinas
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Milliron
authors.affiliation: Materials Science and Engineering Program, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yaraghi
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Herrera
authors.affiliation: National Synchrotron Light Source, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY 11973, USA.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Evans-Lutterodt
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA.
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Nutt
authors.affiliation: School of Civil Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zavattieri
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA; Materials Science and Engineering Program, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA. Electronic address: david@engr.ucr.edu.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kisailus
mesh_terms: D000825:Animal Structures / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D000818:Animals; D040761:Biomimetic Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D002244:Carbon / Q000737:chemistry*; D000077482:Carbon Fiber; D019245:Compressive Strength; D003445:Crustacea / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D004853:Epoxy Resins / Q000737:chemistry*; D020342:Finite Element Analysis
chemical_list: D000077482:Carbon Fiber; D004853:Epoxy Resins; D002244:Carbon
keywords: Biomimetic; Biomineralization; Composites; Modeling