Mechanical behaviour of staggered array of mineralised collagen fibrils in protein matrix: Effects of fibril dimensions and failure energy in protein matrix.
Many biological composite materials such as bone have demonstrated unique mechanical performance, i.e., a combination of superior stiffness and toughness. It has become increasingly clear that the constituents at the nano- and micro-length scales play a critical role in determining the mechanical performance of these biological composites. In this study, the underlying mechanisms governing the mechanical behaviour of the staggered array of mineralised collagen fibrils (MCF) embedded in extra-fibrillar protein matrix were numerically investigated. The evolution of damage zone in protein was estimated using cohesive zone models (CZM). The results indicate that the mechanisms and mechanical behaviour of MCF array are largely dependent on the MCF dimensions and the intrinsic failure energy in extra-fibrillar protein matrix.
School of Chemistry, Physics and Mechanical Engineering, Science and Engineering Faculty, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Zheng Bo
ZB
Lai
School of Chemistry, Physics and Mechanical Engineering, Science and Engineering Faculty, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. Electronic address: c2.yan@qut.edu.au.
Cheng
C
Yan
D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D003094:Collagen / Q000502:physiology*; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000502:physiology*; D008954:Models, Biological; D013314:Stress, Mechanical
D003094:Collagen
Bone; Cohesive zone model; Extra-fibrillar protein; Finite element; Mechanical property; Mineralised collagen fibril