Multi-scale design of the chela of the hermit crab Coenobita brevimanus

doi:10.1016/j.actbio.2021.04.012

	Multi-scale design of the chela of the hermit crab Coenobita brevimanus
	Lin, Weiqin 5; Liu, Pan 1; Li, Shan 5; Tian, Jie 2; Cai, Wenran 5; Zhang, Xiao 5; Peng, Jinlan 3; Miao, Chunguang 5; Zhang, Hong 4; Gu, Ping 5
刊名	ACTA BIOMATERIALIA
	2021-06-01
卷号	127
关键词	Hierarchical structure Laminate Chemical gradient Mechanical properties Crack propagation
ISSN号	1742-7061
DOI	10.1016/j.actbio.2021.04.012
通讯作者	Zhang, Zuoqi(Zhang_Zuoqi@whu.edu.cn) ; Luo, Tianzhi(tzluo@ustc.edu.cn)
英文摘要	Multiple hierarchical structures have been discovered in a variety of exoskeletons. They are naturally designed to maintain the structural integrity and act as a protective layer for the animals. However, each kind of the hierarchical structures has its unique topology, chemical gradients as well as mechanical properties. We find that the chela is multi-layered shell composed of five different layers with distinct features of the microstructures and chemical compositions, conferring different mechanical properties. Especially, a large amount of helicoidal organic fibrils form highly organized 3D woven matrix in the innermost layer, providing a strong mechanical resistance to avoid catastrophic failure. The overall gradient of the elastic modulus and hardness in the cross-section display a sandwich profile, effectively minimizing the stress concentration and deformation. The lessons gained from the multiscale design strategy of the chela provide important insights into the design and fabrication of bioinspired materials. The chela of the hermit crab protects its body against the attack from predators. Yet, a deep understanding of this mechanical defense is still lacking. Here, we investigate the chela of hermit crab, Coenobita brevimanus, and establish the relationships between the microstructures, chemical compositions and mechanical properties to gain insights into its biomechanical functions. We find that the chela is a multi layered shell composed of five different layers with distinct features of the microstructures and chemical compositions, conferring different mechanical properties. Especially, an increase of the calcium carbonate content towards the layer furthest from the exterior, unlike the chemical gradients of many crustacean exoskeletons, provides a strong resistance to deformation. Nanoindentation measurements reveal that the overall gradient of the elastic modulus and hardness in the cross-section displays a sandwich profile, i.e., a soft core clamped by two stiff surface layers. Further mechanics modeling demonstrates that the high curvature and stiff innermost sublayer enhance the structural rigidity of the chela. In conjunction with the experimental observations, dynamic finite element analysis maps the time-spatial distribution of principal stress and indicates that fiber bridging might be the major mechanism against crack propagation at microscale. The lessons gained from the study of this multiphase biological composite could provide important insights into the design and fabrication of bioinspired materials for structural applications. Statement of significance Multiple hierarchical structures have been discovered in a variety of exoskeletons. They are naturally designed to maintain the structural integrity and act as a protective layer for the animals. However, each kind of the hierarchical structures has its unique topology, chemical gradients as well as mechanical properties. We find that the chela is multi-layered shell composed of five different layers with distinct features of the microstructures and chemical compositions, conferring different mechanical properties. Especially, a large amount of helicoidal organic fibrils form highly organized 3D woven matrix in the innermost layer, providing a strong mechanical resistance to avoid catastrophic failure. The overall gradient of the elastic modulus and hardness in the cross-section display a sandwich profile, effectively minimizing the stress concentration and deformation. The lessons gained from the multiscale design strategy of the chela provide important insights into the design and fabrication of bioinspired materials. (c) 2021 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
资助项目	National Science Foundation of China[11572316] ; National Science Foundation of China[11502175] ; National Science Foundation of China[11772240] ; National Science Foundation of China[11720101002] ; National Science Foundation of China[11972264] ; National Science Foundation of China[11602177] ; National Science Foundation of China[21777165] ; Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities[WK2480000006] ; Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities[WK2090050040] ; Science Project of Anhui Province in China[201903a07020019]
WOS关键词	LOBSTER HOMARUS-AMERICANUS ; MECHANICAL-PROPERTIES ; BIOLOGICAL-MATERIALS ; MANTIS SHRIMP ; DEFORMATION ; INDENTATION ; EXOSKELETON ; CUTICLE ; NANOINDENTATION ; MICROSTRUCTURE
WOS研究方向	Engineering ; Materials Science
语种	英语
出版者	ELSEVIER SCI LTD
WOS记录号	WOS:000653434900004
资助机构	National Science Foundation of China ; Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities ; Science Project of Anhui Province in China
内容类型	期刊论文
源URL	[http://ir.hfcas.ac.cn:8080/handle/334002/123709]
专题	中国科学院合肥物质科学研究院
通讯作者	Zhang, Zuoqi; Luo, Tianzhi
作者单位	1.Wuhan Univ, Sch Civil Engn, Dept Engn Mech, Wuhan, Peoples R China 2.Univ Sci & Technol China, Expt Ctr Engn & Mat Sci, Hefei, Peoples R China 3.Univ Sci & Technol China, Ctr Micro & Nanoscale Res & Fabricat, Hefei, Peoples R China 4.Chinese Acad Sci, Inst Plasma Phys, Hefei Inst Phys Sci, Shushanhu Rd 350, Hefei, Peoples R China 5.Univ Sci & Technol China, Dept Modern Mech, CAS Key Lab Mech Behav & Design Mat, Hefei, Peoples R China
推荐引用方式 GB/T 7714	Lin, Weiqin,Liu, Pan,Li, Shan,et al. Multi-scale design of the chela of the hermit crab Coenobita brevimanus[J]. ACTA BIOMATERIALIA,2021,127.
APA	Lin, Weiqin.,Liu, Pan.,Li, Shan.,Tian, Jie.,Cai, Wenran.,...&Luo, Tianzhi.(2021).Multi-scale design of the chela of the hermit crab Coenobita brevimanus.ACTA BIOMATERIALIA,127.
MLA	Lin, Weiqin,et al."Multi-scale design of the chela of the hermit crab Coenobita brevimanus".ACTA BIOMATERIALIA 127(2021).