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Journal of Bionic Engineering ›› 2019, Vol. 16 ›› Issue (5): 869-881.doi: 10.1007/s42235-019-0102-8

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Correlation between Microstructure and Failure Mechanism of Hyriopsis cumingii Shell Structure

Zhen Zhang1,2*, Jun Zhu1,2*, Yajie Chu1,2, Zhengnian Chen1,2, Shun Guo3, Junqiang Xu3#br#

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  1. 1. School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanjing Institute of Technology, Nanjing 211167, China
    2. Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Advanced Structural Materials and Application Technology, Nanjing 211167, China
    3. School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing 210094, China

  • Received:2018-08-14 Revised:2019-08-11 Accepted:2019-08-16 Online:2019-10-10 Published:2019-10-15
  • Contact: Zhen Zhang, Jun Zhu E-mail: zhangzhen@njit.edu.cn, zhujun52s@njit.edu.cn
  • About author:Zhen Zhang, Jun Zhu, Yajie Chu, Zhengnian Chen, Shun Guo, Junqiang Xu

Abstract: In nature, shells exhibit remarkable high toughness and impact resistance to the external load despite their brittle main constituent and simple hierarchical structure. In this work, the structure of the mussel shell Hyriopsis cumingii is analyzed by scanning electron microscope and atomic force microscope, and the macro/micro compression and impact tests are performed. Results show that the shell has a three-layer structure: an outer cuticle layer, a prismatic layer, and a nacreous layer. The stiffer and load-dependent prismatic layer is conducive to improve the impact resistance of shell structure. Fracture morphology after failure proves that cracks are transgranularly propagated inside the prism and aragonite platelet, and the crack deflection and platelet pullout can effectively lock the stress, thereby eventually improving the impact-resistance and toughness of the shell.

Key words: Hyriopsis cumingii shell, microstructure, macro/micro mechanical property, crack propagation