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A mechanical model of the crack-bridging effect in nacre with interlocking interface

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Abstract

The excellent mechanical properties of nacre have attracted the research interest of countless scholars and inspired the optimal design of novel nacre-like materials. In recent years, studies have found that the interface between the mineral platelet and the organic layer of nacre has an uneven micro-topological structure, which has an interlocking effect during the deformation process, and plays a vital role in the mechanical response of nacre. The interlocking structure can increase the sliding resistance of the platelets to increase the fracture toughness. Based on this mechanism, we adapted a crack-bridging model to elucidate the influence of the interlocking angle on the fracture toughness and crack-bridging toughening effect of nacre. The critical interlocking angle and fracture toughness calculated by this model are consistent with the observed and actual experimental results in nacre. This model is of great significance for guiding the interface interlocking design of novel nacre-like materials.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to the support by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) under Grant Nos. 1177220 and 12021002

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  1. Department of Mechanics, School of Mechanical Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 3000350, People’s Republic of China

    Yu-jing Ge & Gan-yun Huang

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  1. Yu-jing Ge
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Ge, Yj., Huang, Gy. A mechanical model of the crack-bridging effect in nacre with interlocking interface. Arch Appl Mech 92, 151–162 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00419-021-02046-5

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