JSME International Journal Series C Mechanical Systems, Machine Elements and Manufacturing
Online ISSN : 1347-538X
Print ISSN : 1344-7653
ISSN-L : 1344-7653
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Round-Hole-Fiber Distribution in Insect Cuticle and Biomimetic Research
Bin CHENXianghe PENGJinghong FAN
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2004 Volume 47 Issue 4 Pages 1128-1132

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Abstract

Insect cuticle possesses excellent mechanical properties, such as strength, stiffness, fracture toughness, which are closely related to its elaborate microstructures optimized through millions of years’ evolution. SEM observation to the insect cuticle shows a particular distribution of fibers surrounding a hole in the insect cuticle, which is quite different from that in conventional man-made composites. In this paper the mechanism of such microstructure is analyzed. Making use of such microstructure, fiber-reinforcing laminate specimens containing preformed holes are designed and fabricated, the ultimate strength of which is investigated experimentally. For comparison, the ultimate strength of the fiber-reinforcing laminate specimens containing drilled holes is also tested. It shows that the ultimate strength of the laminates with preformed holes is distinctly higher than that with drilled-holes, and the difference increases as the hole diameter increases.

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© 2004 by The Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers
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