Ultrasound characterization of bioinspired functionally graded soft-to-hard composites: Experiment and modeling

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Biomaterials Engineering
• Additive Manufacturing

Background:

• Nature utilizes functional grading to bridge tissues with disparate mechanical properties, such as tendon-to-bone attachments.
• Multi-material additive manufacturing enables creation of bioinspired soft-to-hard composites with functional gradients.
• Design variables in these composites significantly influence mechanical performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a model-based approach for describing ultrasound wave interactions with homogeneous and heterogeneous additively manufactured samples.
• To characterize material composition and spatial arrangement variations in these composites.
• To validate the model's predictive capabilities for complex bioinspired materials.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a model-based approach to simulate ultrasound wave propagation.
• Employed longitudinal bulk waves and a linear transducer array for measurements.
• Calibrated the model using homogeneous samples to link parameters with material composition.
• Validated the model by comparing experimental and numerical data from heterogeneous samples.

Main Results:

• Established relationships between model parameters and material composition in homogeneous samples.
• Successfully validated the model's predictions against measurements from heterogeneous samples.
• Demonstrated the model's ability to analyze variations in material ingredients and spatial arrangements.

Conclusions:

• The developed model effectively describes ultrasound wave interactions with additively manufactured functionally graded materials.
• This approach provides a pathway for characterizing and optimizing complex multi-material systems.
• The findings support the advancement of bioinspired composite design and fabrication.