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Experimental and numerical investigation of bio-inspired CFRP structures with layer thickness gradients
Citation Link: https://doi.org/10.15480/882.16584
Publikationstyp
Journal Article
Date Issued
2026-03-15
Sprache
English
TORE-DOI
Journal
Volume
313
Article Number
113409
Citation
Composites Part B Engineering 313: 113409 (2026)
Publisher DOI
Scopus ID
Publisher
Elsevier
Peer Reviewed
true
Throughout evolutionary history, mineralised tissues have developed remarkable skeletal microstructures that combine exceptional damage tolerance with adaptation to challenging environmental conditions. These tissues typically feature composite architectures with spatially varying fibre orientations and layer thicknesses. This study utilises the microstructure of deep-sea sponge spicules and the cuticle of the lobster Homarus americanus as bioinspiration. Sponge spicules, found at depths between 1100 m and 2100 m, consist of radially arranged layers of hydrated silicon dioxide. Their curvature adapts to ocean currents, and analyses reveal graded layer thickness from 0.6 µm to 10 µm. Thinner layers in tensile regions enhance tensile strength due to scaling relationship with layer thickness h<sup>−1/2</sup>, while thicker layers in compressive zones improve stability and reduce buckling. Unlike this microstructure, the cuticle of Homarus americanus comprises epicuticle, exocuticle, and endocuticle, with the latter two forming helicoidal fibre architecture. In the claws, exocuticular layers are thinner, facilitating energy absorption under impact, whereas thicker endocuticular layers provide structural stabilisation through increased stiffness. Inspired by these biological systems, thin-ply carbon fibre reinforced polymer laminates were designed for out-of-plane loading conditions. A quasi-isotropic layup 45°,90°,-45°,0° was chosen to reflect amorphous nature of hydrated silica. To mimic natural gradients, layers of varying thin-ply thickness were employed within thermally balanced laminate sequence. Layer configurations were initially optimised using finite element three-point bending simulations and subsequently validated experimentally. The graded design approach resulted in improved flexural performance and reduced damage propagation under impact loading, demonstrating potential of bio-inspired layer thickness gradation for development of advanced composite structures.
Subjects
CFRP
Finite element analysis
Impact
Out-of-plane
Thin-ply
DDC Class
620.1: Engineering Mechanics and Materials Science
570: Life Sciences, Biology
660: Chemistry; Chemical Engineering
Publication version
publishedVersion
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1-s2.0-S1359836826000296-main.pdf
Type
Main Article
Size
6.35 MB
Format
Adobe PDF