Collaborative Research: Bio-Inspired Impact-Resistant Phononic Sutural Gabions

生物系统中的缝合线在抵抗高冲击和危险振动方面发挥着重要作用。这些缝合的例子可以在啄木鸟的喙和植物的种皮中找到。在更大的规模上，某些使用石笼的工程海堤可以抵御破浪的冲击，并控制侵蚀。受生物缝合线和工程石笼的启发，本课题研究了一种新型的复合材料家族--缝合石笼。与传统材料相比，新设计预计将显著减轻冲击和振动的不利影响。这一新的复合材料设计家族有望在下一代防震材料中有广泛的应用。这些技术可以应用于从基础设施建设到生物医学材料的各种应用。因此，这个项目产生的新知识将促进国家的健康、繁荣和福利。通过将力学、材料科学和添加剂制造相结合，该项目还将为不同群体的学生提供培训机会。所研究的外展工作还将提供与工程、科学和艺术有关的实践活动。该项目将重点揭示生物缝合线和工程石笼优越的动态性能背后的基本机制。这将通过开发一个全面的框架来实现，该框架提供了抗冲击的声子缝合石笼。将采用完全集成的方法，包括非线性有限元模拟、先进的多材料3D打印，以及通过电动振动器、落塔和分离式霍普金森压杆进行的力学实验。该项目将产生新的知识，以加快设计具有非传统机械性能的创新结构材料的研究。通过将力学和材料联系起来，该项目将促进两条研究途径：一条专注于保护性多相复合材料，另一条以软声子多功能材料为中心。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Sutures in biological systems play an important role in resisting high impact and hazardous vibrations. Examples of these sutures can be found in woodpecker beaks and plant seedcoats. At a much larger scale, certain engineered seawalls using gabions resist impact from breaking waves and control erosion. Inspired by biological sutures and engineering gabions, a new family of composite materials named ‘sutural gabions’ are researched in this project. Compared to traditional materials, the new designs are expected to significantly mitigate adverse effects from impact and vibrations. This new family of composite material designs is expected to have broad applications in the next generation of shock-proof materials. These could be employed in applications ranging from built infrastructure to biomedical materials. As a result, the new knowledge generated from this project will advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare. By integrating mechanics, materials science, and additive manufacturing, this project will also provide training opportunities to diverse groups of students. The researched outreach efforts will also provide hand-on activities relating to engineering, sciences, and arts. The project will focus on revealing the fundamental mechanics behind the superior dynamic properties of biological sutures and engineered gabions. This will be accomplished by developing a comprehensive framework providing impact-resistant phononic sutural gabions. Fully integrated approaches will be employed, including nonlinear finite element simulations, advanced multi-material 3D printing, and mechanical experiments via electrodynamic shaker, drop tower, and split-Hopkinson pressure bars. The project will generate new knowledge to expedite research in designing innovative structural materials with unconventional mechanical properties. By bridging mechanics and materials, the project will promote two research avenues: one focusing on protective multi-phase composites, and the other centering on soft phononic multi-functional materials.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.