Hierarchical structure observation and nanoindentation size effect characterization for a limnetic shell

In the present research, hierarchical structure observation and mechanical property characterization for a type of biomaterial are carried out. The investigated bioma- terial is Hyriopsis cumingii, a typical limnetic shell, which consists of two different structural layers, a prismatic ＂pillar＂ structure and a nacreous ＂brick and mortar＂ structure. The prismatic layer looks like a ＂pillar forest＂ with variationsection pillars sized on the order of several tens of microns. The nacreous material looks like a ＂brick wall＂ with bricks sized on the order of several microns. Both pillars and bricks are composed of nanoparticles. The mechanical properties of the hierarchical biomaterial are measured by using the nanoindentation test. Hardness and modulus are measured for both the nacre layer and the prismatic layer, respectively. The nanoindentation size effects for the hierarchical structural materials are investigated experimentally. The results show that the prismatic nanostructured material has a higher stiffness and hardness than the nacre nanostructured material. In addition, the nanoindentation size effects for the hierarchical structural materials are described theoretically, by using the trans-scale mechanics theory considering both strain gradient effect and the surface/interface effect. The modeling results are consistent with experimental ones.

Crack deflection occurs by constrained microcracking in nacre

For decades, nacre has inspired researchers because of its sophisticated hierarchical structure and remarkable mechanical properties, especially its extreme fracture toughness compared with that of its predominant constituent,CaCO3, in the form of aragonite. Crack deflection has been extensively reported and regarded as the principal toughening mechanism for nacre. In this paper, our attention is focused on crack evolution in nacre under a quasi-static state. We use the notched three-point bending test of dehydrated nacre in situ in a scanning electron microscope(SEM) to monitor the evolution of damage mechanisms ahead of the crack tip. The observations show that the crack deflection actually occurs by constrained microcracking. On the basis of our findings, a crack propagation model is proposed, which will contribute to uncovering the underlying mechanisms of nacre’s fracture toughness and its damage evolution. These investigations would be of great value to the design and synthesis of novel biomimetic materials.

不同尺寸橡胶/帘线H型拉拔试验界面参数的归一化处理评价方法

H型拉拔试验被广泛应用于橡胶/帘线复合材料界面粘结强度的估算.然而,目前的国际标准只要求在橡胶/帘线H型拉拔试验中记录拔出力的大小,并强调从不同尺寸的样品中获得的结果不具有可比性.在本文中,我们研究了不同尺寸橡胶/帘线试验样品的H拔出结果的可比性,并提出了一种归一化的评价方法来处理这些结果.分别对尺寸为5 mm、6.4 mm、10 mm的试验样品进行橡胶/帘线H拉拔试验(尺寸为7.5 mm、8.5 mm的试件结果作为支撑性试验).在试验结果的基础上,采用有限元法内聚单元模型对界面粘结强度进行了分析,所得出的内聚力参数比国际标准中所规定的拔出力更能准确地反映界面粘结性能.因此,采用内聚单元法能够更合理地比较不同橡胶/帘线试样的界面粘结强度.我们首先基于6.4 mm尺寸样品的试验结果建立有限元模型,并确定满足条件的内聚单元参数,然后将其应用于其他尺寸的样品模型.尽管试验样品的尺寸大小在变化,但在保持内聚单元参数不变的前提下,模拟结果与试验结果仍然保持良好的一致性,这表明内聚参数不受样本尺寸的影响.在此基础上,我们提出了一种归一化方法,使不同尺寸样品的橡胶/帘线H拉拔试验的结果具有了可比性.本文提出的归一化方法是对现有国际、国内标准实验方法的扩展.