title: 3D-printing and mechanics of bio-inspired articulated and multi-material structures.
abstract: 3D-printing technologies allow researchers to build simplified physical models of complex biological systems to more easily investigate their mechanics. In recent years, a number of 3D-printed structures inspired by the dermal armors of various fishes have been developed to study their multiple mechanical functionalities, including flexible protection, improved hydrodynamics, body support, or tail prehensility. Natural fish armors are generally classified according to their shape, material and structural properties as elasmoid scales, ganoid scales, placoid scales, carapace scutes, or bony plates. Each type of dermal armor forms distinct articulation patterns that facilitate different functional advantages. In this paper, we highlight recent studies that developed 3D-printed structures not only to inform the design and application of some articulated and multi-material structures, but also to explain the mechanics of the natural biological systems they mimic.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, USA. Electronic address: mmporte@clemson.edu.
authors.forename: Michael M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Porter
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, USA.
authors.forename: Nakul
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ravikumar
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Francois
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Barthelat
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Martini
mesh_terms: D000075342:Animal Scales / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D040761:Biomimetic Materials; D005399:Fishes; D008422:Materials Testing; D066330:Printing, Three-Dimensional; D012867:Skin
keywords: Biomimetics; Boxfish carapace; Dermal armor; Fish scale; Seahorse tail; Shark skin