Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Structure of Cadherins01:25

Structure of Cadherins

The cadherins were one of the first cell adhesion molecules discovered; the term “cadherins”   is based on their calcium-dependent adhering properties. The first cadherins discovered on the epithelial, neuronal, and placental cells were named E-cadherin, P-cadherin, and N-cadherin, respectively. These classical cadherins share sequence and structural similarities. Other cadherins, including those involved in cell signaling, are grouped into non-classical cadherins. This diversity of cadherins...
Ionic Crystal Structures02:42

Ionic Crystal Structures

Ionic crystals consist of two or more different kinds of ions that usually have different sizes. The packing of these ions into a crystal structure is more complex than the packing of metal atoms that are the same size.
Most monatomic ions behave as charged spheres, and their attraction for ions of opposite charge is the same in every direction. Consequently, stable structures for ionic compounds result (1) when ions of one charge are surrounded by as many ions as possible of the opposite...
Structural Protein Function01:56

Structural Protein Function

Structural proteins are a category of proteins responsible for functions ranging from cell shape and movement to providing support to major structures such as bones, cartilage, hair, and muscles. This group includes proteins such as collagen, actin, myosin, and keratin.
Collagen, the most abundant protein in mammals, is found throughout the body. In connective tissue, such as skin, ligaments, and tendons, it provides tensile strength and elasticity.  In bones and teeth, it mineralizes to form...
Structural Protein Function01:56

Structural Protein Function

Structural proteins are a category of proteins responsible for functions ranging from cell shape and movement to providing support to major structures such as bones, cartilage, hair, and muscles. This group includes proteins such as collagen, actin, myosin, and keratin.
Collagen, the most abundant protein in mammals, is found throughout the body. In connective tissue, such as skin, ligaments, and tendons, it provides tensile strength and elasticity.  In bones and teeth, it mineralizes to form...
Yield Criteria for Ductile Materials under Plane Stress01:25

Yield Criteria for Ductile Materials under Plane Stress

In designing structural elements and machine parts using ductile materials, it is crucial to ensure that these components withstand applied stresses without yielding. Yielding is initially determined through a tensile test, which evaluates the material's response to uniaxial stress. However, tensile stress is insufficient when components face biaxial or plane stress conditions This condition requires advanced criteria to predict failure.
The Maximum Shearing Stress Criterion, also known as the...
Fiber Reinforced Concrete01:22

Fiber Reinforced Concrete

Fiber-reinforced concrete significantly enhances the structural and nonstructural properties of traditional concrete by incorporating fibers like steel, glass, and polymers. These fibers, varying from natural ones such as sisal and cellulose to manufactured ones like polypropylene and Kevlar, are mixed into hydraulic cement with aggregates. Steel fibers, often preferred for their robustness, contribute to improved ductility, toughness, and post-cracking performance. The concrete is classified...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Calcium sulfate-based load-bearing bone grafts with patient-specific geometry.

Journal of the mechanical behavior of biomedical materials·2024
Same author

Stiff morphing composite beams inspired from fish fins.

Interface focus·2024
Same author

Gradients of properties increase the morphing and stiffening performance of bioinspired synthetic fin rays.

Bioinspiration & biomimetics·2024
Same author

Mechanics and properties of fish fin rays in nonlinear regimes of large deformations.

Acta biomaterialia·2023
Same author

Granular crystals as strong and fully dense architectured materials.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2022
Same author

Modeling, design and tailoring of a tough, strong and stiff multilayered bone graft material.

Journal of the mechanical behavior of biomedical materials·2022

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 10, 2026

Increasing Durability of Dissociated Neural Cell Cultures Using Biologically Active Coralline Matrix
09:22

Increasing Durability of Dissociated Neural Cell Cultures Using Biologically Active Coralline Matrix

Published on: June 3, 2020

Nacre from mollusk shells: a model for high-performance structural materials.

Francois Barthelat1

  • 1Department of Mechanical Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada. francois.barthelat@mcgill.ca

Bioinspiration & Biomimetics
|August 24, 2010
PubMed
Summary

Researchers mimicked nacre's toughening mechanism in a synthetic composite. This biomimetic material replicates the natural material's "tablet sliding" for enhanced toughness and damage tolerance.

More Related Videos

Nanothermite with Meringue-like Morphology: From Loose Powder to Ultra-porous Objects
07:46

Nanothermite with Meringue-like Morphology: From Loose Powder to Ultra-porous Objects

Published on: December 24, 2017

Synchrotron X-ray Microdiffraction and Fluorescence Imaging of Mineral and Rock Samples
10:12

Synchrotron X-ray Microdiffraction and Fluorescence Imaging of Mineral and Rock Samples

Published on: June 19, 2018

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 10, 2026

Increasing Durability of Dissociated Neural Cell Cultures Using Biologically Active Coralline Matrix
09:22

Increasing Durability of Dissociated Neural Cell Cultures Using Biologically Active Coralline Matrix

Published on: June 3, 2020

Nanothermite with Meringue-like Morphology: From Loose Powder to Ultra-porous Objects
07:46

Nanothermite with Meringue-like Morphology: From Loose Powder to Ultra-porous Objects

Published on: December 24, 2017

Synchrotron X-ray Microdiffraction and Fluorescence Imaging of Mineral and Rock Samples
10:12

Synchrotron X-ray Microdiffraction and Fluorescence Imaging of Mineral and Rock Samples

Published on: June 19, 2018

Area of Science:

  • Biomaterials Science
  • Materials Engineering
  • Composite Materials

Background:

  • Nacre, the inner layer of mollusk shells, exhibits exceptional toughness, significantly exceeding its mineral components.
  • This remarkable toughness is attributed to the "tablet sliding" mechanism, where microscopic mineral platelets slide against each other under tension.
  • Despite its impressive properties, replicating nacre's toughening mechanism in artificial materials has remained a significant challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop a synthetic composite material that replicates nacre's unique toughening mechanism.
  • To investigate the potential of biomimetic design in enhancing the mechanical properties of engineering materials.
  • To demonstrate the feasibility of harnessing nacre's collective tablet sliding for material design.

Main Methods:

  • Implementation of selected structural features of natural nacre into a polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA)-based composite.
  • Fabrication of a biomimetic composite designed to enable collective tablet sliding.
  • Mechanical testing and analysis to evaluate the toughening mechanisms and properties of the synthetic material.

Main Results:

  • The developed PMMA-based composite successfully replicated the collective tablet sliding mechanism observed in natural nacre.
  • This biomimetic material demonstrated a significant increase in toughness and damage tolerance, comparable to natural nacre.
  • The study validates that nacre's toughening principles can be effectively translated into synthetic materials.

Conclusions:

  • The collective tablet sliding mechanism, a key feature of nacre, can be successfully replicated in engineered composites.
  • This research opens new avenues for designing advanced materials with superior toughness and damage tolerance inspired by nature.
  • The findings highlight the potential of biomimicry in creating high-performance engineering materials.