
Numerical and Experimental Investigation of Bio-Inspired Composite Structures based on the Microstructure of Sponge Spicules
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Over the course of mineralized tissue evolution, nature has created remarkable skeletal microstructures that demonstrate excellent damage resistance and are ideally adapted to a wide array of challenging environmental conditions. These mineralized tissues are characterized by a composite structure with varying angles and different layer thicknesses [1,2]. The spicules examined in this study, a type of sponge found in the deep sea at depths ranging from 1100m to 2100m, are anchored to the sea floor. They align themselves with the ocean's current and exhibit a bending curvature of their structure. The spicules consist of radially arranged layers of hydrated silicon dioxide. Examination of the microstructure reveals that the thickness of these layers varies across the cross-section, ranging from 0.6µm to 10µm, with thinner layers found in the tension areas and thicker layers in the compression areas of the specimen. The thinner layers in the tensile zone correlate with the increased tensile cracking stress, which is scaled with the layer thickness h-1/2, while the thicker layers in the compression zone increase stability and prevent buckling [2]. Inspired by this microstructure, a composite material for three-point bending loads was designed using Thin-Ply CFRP. Due to the amorphous nature of hydrated silicon dioxide, a quasi-isotropic structure with the sequence [45°, 90°, -45°, 0°] was chosen [3]. Thin-Ply layers with varying thicknesses were used to mimic the thickness distribution of sponge spicules, with attention to a thermally balanced design. A finite element model was employed to select the layer configurations, and the most optimal configurations were validated through experimental testing.