Early detection of failure mechanisms in resilient biostructures : a network flow study

Abstract

The area of bioinspired material design is fairly young and mainly unexploited. This research aims to gain fundamental understanding of the hierarchical lattice architecture in the paddlefish rostrum and use this knowledge to obtain new insights for a wide range of applications. This work presents an integrated, interdisciplinary approach that employs computational mechanics and the theory of network statistics to gain fundamental insights into the failure mechanisms of high performance, lightweight, structured composites by examining the geometry and material properties of the rostrum. Results from computational mechanics simulations and network flow analysis are presented with emphasis on the load transfer mechanism in the Bio-Structure. The structure is formed from a network of structural elements that carries forces through combinations, or chains, of structural members called force chains in reference to similar structures generally observed in granular media. These force chains are often aligned in the principal direction of the external stress to which the system is subjected. The current research presents a flow network analysis of the rostrum with and without the presence of the lattice architecture. Highly localized force chains were formed in the rostrum with similar loading conditions in absence of the lattice architecture. The flow network was also able to capture the stain localization in the tensile region of the rostrum and the asymmetrical response of the rostrum to uniform loading. DISCLAIMER: The contents of this report are not to be used for advertising, publication, or promotional purposes. Citation of trade names does not constitute an official endorsement or approval of the use of such commercial products. All product names and trademarks cited are the property of their respective owners. The findings of this report are not to be construed as an official Department of the Army position unless so designated by other authorized documents.

A Transdisciplinary Approach for Analyzing Stress Flow Patterns in Biostructures

“…They also presented the procedure of preparing the data in an appropriate format from finite element binary database files to an abstract mathematical domain in their recent publication [40]. Patel et al have also developed bioinspired structural systems to analyze the relationship of structural resiliency and geometrical complexity [39]. This work extends their previous research to include a multiple combination of source and sink.…”

“…Patel et al developed the methodology of using network theory with finite element analysis in their previous work [39], which used a single source and sink combination to analyze the stress flow pattern on the rostrum. They also presented the procedure of preparing the data in an appropriate format from finite element binary database files to an abstract mathematical domain in their recent publication [40].…”

Computational mechanics of the paddlefish rostrum

“…Verification efforts were focused on the overall model behavior of the rostrum described in the mesh sensitivity study. The displacement along the length of the rostrum was compared to the bioinspired model ( Figure 9) described by Patel (2018). The bioinspired model was also modeled as a cantilever beam with Ux = Uy = Uz = 0 at a center line of the far end surface (representing the mouth end of the rostrum).…”

Instrumenting Polyodon spathula (Paddlefish) Rostra in Flowing Water with Strain Gages and Accelerometers

“…Modelling efforts include a series of preliminary numerical experiments carried out by Riveros et al [18] that revealed that the rostrum has superior energy dissipation and load bearing capacity as compared to man-made engineered systems. In other previous works, Patel et al [19] studied stress flow patterns on the rosta of Paddlefish using a finite element and flow network approach to create a flow network graph. This approach was validated in their work [19][20][21] using classical approaches.…”

“…In other previous works, Patel et al [19] studied stress flow patterns on the rosta of Paddlefish using a finite element and flow network approach to create a flow network graph. This approach was validated in their work [19][20][21] using classical approaches. Recently, Riveros et al [22] developed finite-element models (FEM) to evaluate the mechanical behavior of the rostrum.…”