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Lizard osteoderms - Morphological characterisation, biomimetic design and manufacturing based on three species.
Ce Liang1, Arsalan Marghoub1, Loic Kever2
1Department of Mechanical Engineering, University College London, London WC1E 7JE, United Kingdom.
Bioinspiration & Biomimetics
|September 15, 2021
Summary
Lizard osteoderms (ODs), mineralized dermal structures, were biomimetically replicated. Overlapping OD arrangements, like those in Corucia, showed higher impact energy absorption than other patterns, suggesting potential for protective materials.
Area of Science:
- Zoology
- Materials Science
- Biomimetics
Background:
- Osteoderms (ODs) are mineralized dermal structures in lizards, primarily composed of calcium phosphate and collagen.
- Lizard ODs exhibit diverse morphologies and arrangements, making them ideal for studying these structures, yet their development and function are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct detailed morphological characterization of ODs in three lizard species.
- To design and manufacture biomimetic sheets mimicking natural OD arrangements.
- To evaluate the impact resistance of these biomimetic sheets.
Main Methods:
- Acquisition of skin samples from Heloderma suspectum, Ophisaurus ventralis, and Corucia zebrata.
- Imaging and characterization to create 3D biomimetic models of ODs.
- Additive manufacturing (3D printing) of biomimetic OD sheets and subsequent drop weight impact testing.
Main Results:
- Biomimetic sheets were created based on OD arrangements from the studied species.
- A 3D printed compound of overlapping ODs, mimicking Corucia, demonstrated potentially higher energy absorption compared to overlapping ODs in Ophisaurus and non-overlapping ODs in Heloderma.
Conclusions:
- The arrangement of osteoderms significantly influences their impact resistance.
- Overlapping osteoderm structures, as seen in Corucia, offer a promising biomimetic concept for enhancing shock absorption in artificial materials and structures.
