Novel cuttlebone-inspired hierarchical bionic structure enabled high energy absorption

• Published in: Thin-walled structures Vol. 186; p. 110693
• Main Authors: Cui, C.Y., Chen, L., Feng, S., Cui, X.G., Lu, J.Z.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.05.2023
• Subjects: Bio-inspired structures; Cuttlebone-like hierarchical structure; Digital light processing; Energy absorption; Hierarchical structure; Bio-inspired structures; Digital light processing; Energy absorption; Cuttlebone-like hierarchical structure; Hierarchical structure
• ISSN: 0263-8231; 1879-3223
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tws.2023.110693

Bionic design is an effective strategy for obtaining lightweight, high-performance, and even multifunctional structures. Here, we found a novel hierarchical lamellar chamber microstructure in cuttlebone. To determine whether and how this cuttlebone-like hierarchical structure (CL-H) works on its mechanical properties, various lattices with CL-H cellular structure through digital light processing technique were designed and fabricated. Results showed that the CL-H lattice had excellent mechanical performances, achieving specific energy absorption up to a dozen times that of the non-hierarchical cuttlebone-like structure (CL) and triply periodic minimal surface structures. The CL-H lattices presented progressive failure behaviors depending on the numbers of sub-chambers. Furthermore, the mechanisms of energy absorption characteristic and failure behavior were systematically analyzed by combining microstructure examination and FEM simulation, and a schematic model was proposed. This study shed light on the design and engineering of advanced bio-inspired materials with excellent mechanical properties. •Novel cuttlebone-inspired multi-hierarchical bionic structure is analyzed.•Various lattices with cuttlebone-like structures through DLP are discussed.•Mechanisms of energy absorption characteristic and failure behavior are revealed.