Finite Element Analysis as a Method to Study Molluscan Shell Mechanics

Abstract

The clade Mollusca is a highly diverse and disparate group of terrestrial and aquatic invertebrates, the taxon containing over 100 000 known species including some of the most intelligent invertebrate animals. Their shells are exemplar systems in the study of biomechanics, biomineralization, and biomimetics. Research into understanding the superior biomechanical properties of the shell and how these properties relate to the animals ecology have required a diverse range of methods at multiple length scales; one particularly powerful method is finite element analysis. Finite element analysis is a robust engineering method that has a long-standing history in biomechanical research. This review summarizes the application of finite element analysis in the study of both the mechanical properties of different molluscan shell ultrastructures as well as macro-scale modeling of the shell. From the calculation of elastic constants to the origins of the strength of nacre and the relationship between shell folding and ecology, this article provides a window into how finite element analysis can further our understanding of mechanics and functional morphology.

A polyrotaxanated covalent organic network based on viologen and cucurbit[7]uril

“…We did not observe any "pop-outs" during analysis of TpV. The enhanced mechanical properties of the TpVCB [7] material might be due to its inherent stacking tendencies, which are analogous to nacre systems 57 . All of our mechanical studies indicate that threading the 2D viologen framework through CB [7] leads to the formation of a film that is 1.5 times stiffer and stable.…”

Wet shells and dry tales: the evolutionary ‘Just-So’ stories behind the structure–function of biominerals

“…The shells of molluscs present an excellent medium to test these material properties due to several decades of research into their structure and mechanics [20,[29][30][31]. The aforementioned nacre ultrastructure is taken from the external shell of the cephalopod Nautilus pompilius (figure 1a-d).…”

Raptorial appendages of the Cambrian apex predator Anomalocaris canadensis are built for soft prey and speed

“…We have instead focused on where the strain is concentrated in the FEMs, allowing us to determine where intense mechanical strain was experienced in the appendage. Such applications of FEA on extinct morphologies inherently lack exact modern comparisons, but are useful for understanding stress and strain distributions in modern and extinct animals [ 66 , 67 ]. Importantly, the higher strain along the endites is comparable to FEMs of other fossil arthropods with elongated spines on their feeding appendages [ 39 ], highlighting that these morphologies are sub-optimal for grabbing and crushing reinforced prey.…”