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In-situ AFM Experiments with Discontinuous DIC Applied to Damage Identification in Biomaterials

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Abstract

Natural materials (e.g. nacre, bone, and spider silk) exhibit unique and outstanding mechanical properties. This performance is due to highly evolved hierarchical designs. Building a comprehensive understanding of the multi-scale mechanisms that enable this performance represents a critical step toward realizing strong and tough bio-inspired materials. This paper details a multi-scale experimental investigation into the toughening mechanisms in natural nacre. By applying extended digital image correlation and other image processing techniques, quantitative information is extracted from otherwise prodominantly qualitative experiments. In situ three point bending fracture tests are performed to identify and quantify the toughening mechanisms involved during the fracture of natural nacre across multiple length scales. At the macro and micro scales, fracture tests performed in situ with a macro lens and optical microscope enable observation of spreading of damage outward from the crack tip. This spreading is quantified using an iso-contour technique to assess material toughness. At the nanoscale, fracture tests are performed in situ an atomic force microscope to link the larger-scale damage spreading to sliding within the tablet-based microstructure. To quantify the magnitude of sliding and its distribution, images from the in situ AFM fracture tests are analyzed using new algorithms based on digital image correlation techniques which allow for discontinuous displacement fields. Ultimately, this comprehensive methodology provides a framework for broad experimental investigations into the failure mechanisms of bio- and bio-inspired materials.

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Acknowledgments

HDE acknowledges the support by the National Science Foundation through award No. CMS-0301416, ARO-MURI Award No. W911NF-08-1-0541, ONR awards N00014-08-1-0108, N00014-08-1-1055, and General Motors Company through contract No. TCS10643. Carla Shute (Northwestern University) is gratefully acknowledged for her advice concerning the nacre sample preparation. D.G. is grateful to the French Ministry of Defense (DGA/D4S) for its support through grant No. 0860021 to visit Northwestern University as a research associate. O.L. acknowledges the Northwestern University Presidential and Ryan Fellowships.

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Author notes

  1. D. Grégoire

    Present address: Laboratoire des Fluides Complexes et leurs Reservoirs, Université de Pau et des Pays de l’Adour, Allée du Parc Montaury, 64600, Anglet, France

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA

    D. Grégoire, O. Loh (SEM member), A. Juster (SEM member) & H. D. Espinosa (SEM fellow)

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  1. D. Grégoire
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  2. O. Loh
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  3. A. Juster
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  4. H. D. Espinosa
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to H. D. Espinosa.

Appendix A. Figures with Essential Color Discrimination

Appendix A. Figures with Essential Color Discrimination

Certain figures in this article, particularly Figs. 6 and 15 are difficult to interpret in black and white. The full color images can be found in the on-line version.

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Grégoire, D., Loh, O., Juster, A. et al. In-situ AFM Experiments with Discontinuous DIC Applied to Damage Identification in Biomaterials. Exp Mech 51, 591–607 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11340-011-9463-6

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