| About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2020 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
| Symposium
|
Biological Materials Science
|
| Presentation Title |
The Cholla Cactus: a New Model for Torsional Resilience in Biological Materials |
| Author(s) |
Albert Matsushita, Luca Devivo, Daniel Kupor, Josue Luna, Doheon Lee, Falko Kuester, Joanna McKittrick |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Albert Matsushita |
| Abstract Scope |
Biological materials tested in compression, tension, and impact inspire designs for strong and tough materials, but torsion is a relatively neglected but important loading mode. The wood skeletons of cholla cacti, subject to spartan desert conditions and 120 kph winds, provide a new template for torsionally resilient biological materials. They comprise a helically perforated hollow tube whose mechanical properties were hitherto unstudied. Experimental methods, finite element analysis, and topology optimization revealed how cholla meso and macro-porosity and fibril orientation contribute to highly density-efficient mechanical behavior. The data far exceeded bamboo and trabecular bone in their ability to combine torsional strength and toughness. This work was supported by a Multi-University Research Initiative through the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR-FA9550-15-1–0009) and a National Science Foundation Biomaterials Grant (1507978). |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: Supplemental Proceedings volume |