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Mechanical adaptability of the Bouligand-type structure in natural dermal armour

Author

Listed:
  • Elizabeth A. Zimmermann

    (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory)

  • Bernd Gludovatz

    (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory)

  • Eric Schaible

    (Experimental Systems Group, Advanced Light Source, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory)

  • Neil K. N. Dave

    (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory)

  • Wen Yang

    (Materials Science and Engineering Program, University of California, San Diego)

  • Marc A. Meyers

    (Materials Science and Engineering Program, University of California, San Diego
    University of California, San Diego)

  • Robert O. Ritchie

    (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
    University of California)

Abstract

Arapaima gigas, a fresh water fish found in the Amazon Basin, resist predation by piranhas through the strength and toughness of their scales, which act as natural dermal armour. Arapaima scales consist of a hard, mineralized outer shell surrounding a more ductile core. This core region is composed of aligned mineralized collagen fibrils arranged in distinct lamellae. Here we show how the Bouligand-type (twisted plywood) arrangement of collagen fibril lamellae has a key role in developing their unique protective properties, by using in situ synchrotron small-angle X-ray scattering during mechanical tensile tests to observe deformation mechanisms in the fibrils. Specifically, the Bouligand-type structure allows the lamellae to reorient in response to the loading environment; remarkably, most lamellae reorient towards the tensile axis and deform in tension through stretching/sliding mechanisms, whereas other lamellae sympathetically rotate away from the tensile axis and compress, thereby enhancing the scale’s ductility and toughness to prevent fracture.

Suggested Citation

  • Elizabeth A. Zimmermann & Bernd Gludovatz & Eric Schaible & Neil K. N. Dave & Wen Yang & Marc A. Meyers & Robert O. Ritchie, 2013. "Mechanical adaptability of the Bouligand-type structure in natural dermal armour," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 4(1), pages 1-7, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:4:y:2013:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms3634
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms3634
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    Cited by:

    1. Mingyang Zhang & Ning Zhao & Qin Yu & Zengqian Liu & Ruitao Qu & Jian Zhang & Shujun Li & Dechun Ren & Filippo Berto & Zhefeng Zhang & Robert O. Ritchie, 2022. "On the damage tolerance of 3-D printed Mg-Ti interpenetrating-phase composites with bioinspired architectures," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-13, December.
    2. Hongxing Wang & Longdi Cheng & Jianyong Yu & Yang Si & Bin Ding, 2024. "Biomimetic Bouligand chiral fibers array enables strong and superelastic ceramic aerogels," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-10, December.

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