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Updated: Feb 9, 2026

Fused Filament Fabrication FFF of Metal-Ceramic Components
Published on: January 11, 2019
Deformation and fracture behavior of a natural shell ceramic: Coupled effects of shell shape and microstructure
1Department of Materials Physics and Chemistry, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Key Laboratory for Anisotropy and Texture of Materials (Ministry of Education), Northeastern University, Shenyang 110819, China; Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Ryerson University, 350 Victoria Street, Toronto, Ontario M5B 2K3, Canada.
Abstract:
Common seashells possess their most adaptive functions benefiting from the macro-geometry and unique microstructures. The Cymbiola nobilis shell exhibits a logarithmic spiral-like shape and it is hierarchically constructed by the fiber-like crossed-lamellar structure. Three-point bending tests are conducted on three groups of samples taken from different locations (G1 with two macro-layers, G2 with three macro-layers, and G3 containing three macro-layers but with an arch-like curved shape). A novel method was developed to evaluate the bending stress of the curved samples and understand the bending fracture resistance of such curved samples. Due to the presence of a horizontal force that can decrease or shield the bending moment at the bottom center of samples, the arch-like G3 samples demonstrate the highest bending fracture resistance, revealing the significance of the curved shape of shell in the protection against the external attacks. The number of macro-layers and the curved shape of shell play an important role in the mechanical properties of the shell. The orientation of building blocks in a single crossed-lamellar layer is critical to the fracture resistance, and five types of fracture modes based on interfacial debonding, inter- and trans-lamella fracture are identified. The results obtained in this study would help open a new pathway to the development of bio-inspired high-performance structural materials.
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