Bio‐inspired Composites: Using Nature to Tackle Composite Limitations

Learning from nature: Bio-inspiration for damage-tolerant high-performance fibre-reinforced composites

“…The requirements for today's structural materials constantly rise in pursuit of increasing strength, toughness and damage tolerance [1], [2]. These properties are however conflicting and empirical studies have shown that an improvement in either strength or toughness results in the deterioration of the opposing property, and vice versa [1].…”

“…Nalewey et al [18] have summarized the most important design elements that are responsible for the strong and tough nature of bio-composites. The organization of these elements on different length scales (nano-to meso-scale) results in hierarchical structures [2], [3], [7], [10], [11], [14]- [17], [19]- [57], which promote an enhanced balance of mechanical properties.…”

“…Shielding/crack deflection [1], [2], [9], [54], [56], [65]- [75] Crack bridging [1], [56], [63], [67], [72], [76]- [78] Stretching/Tearing [14], [57], [73] Pull-out/Interfacial hardening [1], [13], [15], [79] Micro-cracking [1], [9], [54], [80]- [82]…”

“…The remarkable fracture behaviour and toughness of bone make it a promising type of structure 379 that can serve as a model for advanced composites [2]. The major building blocks of bone's 380 hierarchical structure are stiff hydroxyapatite platelets (HA) and flexible collagen fibres, which 381 are concentrically aligned in lamellae, the so called in osteons (Figure 15) [2]. As such, the 382 hierarchical microstructure of bone stretches over various length scales [2].…”

Evaluation on mechanical properties of high‐performance biocomposite bridge deck structure: a review

“…Using biofibers as the reinforcement material of composites is also more and more widely applied in structural engineering. Due to the increasing requirements on strength, toughness, and damage tolerance of structural materials, [82,83] now the biofibers that can be used in structural composites are mainly natural fibers, and the manufacturing industry has paid more attention to the choice of natural fibers (hemp, flax, ramie, jute, sisal, kapok, kenaf, coconut shell, rice husk, etc.) reinforced materials as alternative materials in order to replace the synthetic material matrix composites.…”