Bioinspired Materials with Self-Adaptable Mechanical Properties

Natural structural materials, such as bone, can autonomously modulate their mechanical properties in response to external loading to prevent failure. These material systems smartly control the addition/removal of material in locations of high/low mechanical stress by utilizing local resources guided by biological signals. On the contrary, synthetic structural materials have unchanging mechanical properties limiting their mechanical performance and service life. Inspired by the mineralization process of bone, a material system that adapts its mechanical properties in response to external mechanical loading is reported. It is found that charges from piezoelectric scaffolds can induce mineralization from surrounding media. It is shown that the material system can adapt to external mechanical loading by inducing mineral deposition in proportion to the magnitude of the stress and the resulting piezoelectric charges. Moreover, the mineralization mechanism allows a simple one-step route for fabricating functionally graded materials by controlling the stress distribution along the scaffold. The findings can pave the way for a new class of self-regenerating materials that reinforce regions of high stress or induce deposition of minerals on the damaged areas from the increase in mechanical stress to prevent/mitigate failure. It is envisioned that the findings can contribute to addressing the current challenges of synthetic materials for load-bearing applications from self-adaptive capabilities.     

Exact three-dimensional piezothermoelasticity solution for dynamics of rectangular cross-ply hybrid plates featuring interlaminar bonding imperfections

An exact three-dimensional (3D) piezothermoelasticity solution is presented for static, free vibration and steady state harmonic response of simply supported cross-ply piezoelectric (hybrid) laminated rectangular plates with interlaminar bonding imperfections. The bonding imperfection is modeled by considering the jump in the displacements, electric potential and temperature across the non-rigid interface proportional, respectively, to the associated tractions, transverse electric displacement and heat flux. The solution includes the case when electric potentials are prescribed at the interfaces for effective actuation. Numerical results are presented for hybrid composite and sandwich plates with varying imperfection compliance. The effect of location of imperfect bonding on the response is investigated for mechanical, electric potential and thermal load cases. The effect of weak bonding at elastic–piezoelectric interface on the actuation authority of the piezoelectric layer is also investigated. These results would serve as benchmark for assessing 2D plate theories incorporating interlaminar bonding imperfections.     

Bone remodelling in the pores and around load bearing transchondral isoelastic porous-coated glassy carbon implants: Experimental study in rabbits

Cylinders of porous-coated glassy carbon were implanted into drill holes made through the articular surface of the medial condyle of both tibiae of ten rabbits for six and 12 weeks. Bone ingrowth and remodelling was examined by radiographic, histologic, oxytetracycline-fluorescence and microradiographic methods. Bone ingrowth into pores and load bearing implants was seen by all examination methods. Bone ingrowth occurred earlier when the pores were facing cancellous bone than cortical bone. Appositional bone formation occurred on the trabeculae a few millimetres from the interface during the early phase of remodelling at six weeks. At 12 weeks resorptive remodelling had occurred both in the surroundings and in those pores that face cancellous bone, whereas the amount of bone still increased in the pores facing cortical bone. In its porous-coated form glassy carbon functions well as a frame for ingrowing bone and it shows good osteoconductivity. Its mechanical properties are suitable for functioning as a structural bone substitute in places where the loads are mainly compressive. The difference between findings at six and 12 weeks indicated physiologic stress distribution and the adverse effects of stiff materials on bone remodelling were avoided by using this isoelastic material.     

Mechanical characterization of bone cement using fiber Bragg grating sensors

The aim of this work was the study and understanding of the behavior and linearity of an optical fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensor embedded in bone cement. Test its ability to monitor strains inside bone cement during different mechanical tests, at real-time. Bone cement is a biomaterials based on polymethacrylate used as fixation method in artificial joints. Work as a bonding, load transfer and optimal stress/strain distribution inside the complex human body environment. Bone cement is the weakest element in a joint implant, being considered the main reason of prosthesis loosening.Inside the bone cement, its temperature, longitudinal strain and load were measured using fiber Bragg gratings. All the measurements report a linear response showing a good adaptation and optimization of the load transfer between the biomaterial and the embedded optical sensor.     

Nonlinear electro-mechanical responses of functionally graded piezoelectric beams

This study presents analyses of the nonlinear electro-mechanical responses of functionally graded piezoelectric beams undergoing small deformation gradients. The studied functionally graded beams comprise of electro-active and inactive constituents with gradual compositions varying through the thickness of the beams. Two types nonlinear electro-mechanical responses are considered for the active constituents, which are nonlinear electro-mechanical behaviors for the polarized piezoelectric constituent under electric fields smaller than the coercive limit, and polarization switching responses due to cyclic electric fields with high amplitude. The inactive constituent is modeled with uncoupled linear electro-elastic response. The functionally graded beam is discretized into several graded layers through its thickness. Each layer is comprised of different compositions of the active (piezoelectric) inclusions and conductive matrix. A particle-unit-cell micromechanical model is used to obtain the nonlinear electro-mechanical responses in each layer and is integrated within the laminate theory in order to obtain the overall nonlinear electro-mechanical responses of the functionally graded piezoelectric beams. The numerical predictions are compared with experimental data available in literature. Parametric studies are then performed in order to examine the effects of the thickness of the beam, of the concentration of the constituent, and the frequency of the cyclic electric field on the overall electro-mechanical response of the functionally graded piezoelectric beams.     

Design optimization of functionally graded dental implant for bone remodeling

Despite a great success, one of the key issues facing in dental implantation clinic is a mismatch of mechanical properties between engineered and native biomaterials, which makes osseointegration and bone remodeling problematical. Functionally Graded Material (FGM) has been proposed as a potential upgrade to some conventional implant materials like titanium for selection in prosthetic dentistry. The idea of FGM dental implant is that the property would vary in a certain pattern to match the biomechanical characteristics required at different regions in the hosting bone. However, mating properties do not necessarily guarantee the best osseointegration and bone remodeling. No existing report has been available to develop an optimal design of FGM dental implant for promoting a long-term success. This paper aims to explore this critical issue by using the computational bone remodeling and design optimization. A buccal–lingual sectional model, which consists of a single unit implant and four other adjacent teeth, was constructed from computerized tomography (CT) scan images. Bone remodeling induced by use of various FGM dental implants is calculated over the period of 4 years. Based upon remodeling results, response surface method (RSM) is adopted to develop a multi-objective optimal design for FGM implantation FGM designs.     

Dynamic fracture mechanics study of an electrically impermeable mode III crack in a transversely isotropic piezoelectric material under pure electric load

The dynamic response of an electrically impermeable Mode III crack in a transversely isotropic piezoelectric material under pure electric load is investigated by treating the electric loading process as a transient impact load, which may be more appropriate to mimic the real service environment of piezoelectric materials. The stress intensity factor, the mechanical energy release rate, and the total energy release rate are derived and expressed as a function of time for a given applied electric load. The theoretical results indicate that a purely electric load can fracture the piezoelectric material if the stress intensity factor or the mechanical energy release rate is used as a failure criterion.     

Nano piezoelectric/piezomagnetic energy harvester with surface effect based on thickness shear mode

BackgroundEnergy harvesters with piezoelectric materials are widely discussed for the new kinds of smart structures. However, reports on the energy harvesters at the nano scale which have large potential applications in the future are rather limited.MethodsIt’s well known that the surface or interface stress can affect the mechanical properties of nanostructures. This work proposes the nano energy harvester with piezoelectric/piezomagnetic structure, in which the thickness-shear mode is considered by the surface stress model.ResultsThe vibration motion and output power density are derived and calculated. The peak value of the power density can be enlarged by increasing the residual surface stress and the surface effect on the nano-plate energy harvester can be influenced by both the surface piezoelectric and piezomagnetic elastic constants. Moreover, the harvesting ability can be improved by increasing the thickness of the piezoelectric layer.ConclusionThe capability of the energy harvester depends on the residual surface stress and the surface material constants. The proposed model provides the possibility of applying nano composite structures to the energy harvester.     

Effects of the initial stress on the propagation and localization properties of Rayleigh waves in randomly disordered layered piezoelectric phononic crystals

In this paper, the effects of the initial stress on the propagation and localization properties of the Rayleigh surface waves in randomly disordered layered piezoelectric phononic crystals are studied. Due to different mechanical properties between the piezoelectric material and the polymer, different initial stresses in these two layers satisfying the equilibrium condition and interfacial compatibility are considered, which is more suitable for the practical cases. The transfer matrix between two consecutive piezoelectric unit cells is derived according to the continuity conditions. The expression of the localization factor is presented, and the wave localization properties are analyzed. Numerical calculations for the PVDF/PZT–2 periodic composites with the initial stress are performed. The band gap characteristics are studied taking the mechanical and electrical coupling into account. It is found that the localization degree can be influenced by the piezoelectric constants. With the increase in the piezoelectric constant, the stop band regions are enlarged for the ordered structures, and the localization properties of Rayleigh waves are strengthened for the disordered systems. The Rayleigh waves will be localized in mistuned periodic piezoelectric composites. The characteristics of band gaps and wave localization in ordered and disordered piezoelectric phononic crystals can be significantly changed by tuning the initial stress.     

Free surface density and microdamage in the bone remodeling equation: Theoretical considerations

Bone is maintained through a coupled process of bone resorption and bone formation, in a continuous process called bone remodeling. An imbalance in this process caused by disease, abnormal mechanical demands, or fatigue may predispose bone to fracture injuries. The remodeling process is generally viewed as a material response to functional demands. Here, we propose a new set of constitutive equations for the bone remodeling process and contains the specific surface, instead of volume fraction, and the degree of microcracking in the constitutive equations. The rate of remodeling is related to mechanical stimuli, free surface density and a microcrack factor. In this approach, the effect of mechanical stimuli, rate of mechanical stimuli, and integration of mechanical stimuli on bone remodeling can be evaluated simultaneously in the remodeling equation. Specific examples are given for illustration of the model.     

Effects of interphase material properties in unidirectional fibre reinforced composites

A three-dimensional (3D) micromechanical study has been performed in order to investigate local damage in unidirectional (UD) composite materials with epoxy resin under transverse tensile loading. In particular the effect of different mechanical properties of a 3D interphase within the hexagonal array RVE have been considered and effects of thermal residual stress arising during the curing process have been accounted for in this study. To examine the effect of interphase properties and residual stress on failure, a study based on the temperature-dependent properties of matrix and interphase and a stiffness degradation technique has been used for damage analysis of the unit cell subjected to mechanical loading. Results indicate a strong dependence of damage onset and its evolution from the different interphase properties within the RVE (representative volume element). Moreover, predicted mechanical properties, damage initiation and evolution are also clearly influenced by the presence of residual stress. Numerical results and experimental data (in the literature) have also shown an interesting agreement.     

FEM analysis of electro-mechanical coupling effect of piezoelectric materials

Based on the mechanical and electrical equilibrium equations of piezoelectric materials, the minimum potential theory is presented by using the virtual work principle in this paper. A finite element method (FEM) formulation accounting for the electro-mechanical coupling effect of piezoelectric materials is given. Some problems in the numerical simulation are discussed and the extreme illness of the stiffness matrix is overcome by the dimension changing method. As a simple application, the response of an elliptical cavity in infinite media of piezoelectric materials is analyzed. Such a geometry leads to stress and electric field concentrations.     

Constitutive modelling of fibre-reinforced composites with unidirectional plies using a plasticity-based approach

This paper presents the development of a constitutive model able to accurately represent the full non-linear mechanical response of polymer-matrix fibre-reinforced composites with unidirectional (UD) plies under quasi-static loading. This is achieved by utilising an elasto-plastic modelling framework. The model captures key features that are often neglected in constitutive modelling of UD composites, such as the effect of hydrostatic pressure on both the elastic and non-elastic material response, the effect of multiaxial loading and dependence of the yield stress on the applied pressure.The constitutive model includes a novel yield function which accurately represents the yielding of the matrix within a unidirectional fibre-reinforced composite by removing the dependence on the stress in the fibre direction. A non-associative flow rule is used to capture the pressure sensitivity of the material. The experimentally observed translation of subsequent yield surfaces is modelled using a non-linear kinematic hardening rule. Furthermore, evolution laws are proposed for the non-linear hardening that relate to the applied hydrostatic pressure.Multiaxial test data is used to show that the model is able to predict the non-linear response under complex loading combinations, given only the experimental response from two uniaxial tests.     

Analytical solutions of the displacement and stress fields of the nanocomposite structure of biological materials

Biological materials, such as bone and nacre, are nanocomposites of protein and mineral with superior mechanical properties. The basic building blocks of these materials feature a generic nanocomposite structure with staggered alignment of mineral platelets in protein matrix. Because of the structural complexity of the generic structure, its displacement and stress fields are currently still unknown. In this study, a perturbation method was applied for analytically solving the displacement and stress fields of the nanocomposite structure under uniaxial tension. The effect of the elastic modulus, aspect ratio and volume fraction of mineral and protein on the displacement and stress fields in the nanocomposite structure was studied. A non-dimensional parameter γ was then suggested for characterizing the stress and strain fields in this nanostructure. We showed that the assumption of uniform shear stress distribution at the mineral-protein interface in the TSC model is valid when γ is less than 4 which is broadly applicable to most biological materials. The analytical solutions of displacement and stress fields obtained in this study provide a solid basis for further analyses of mechanical properties, such as the buckling and the fracture behaviors of biological materials.     

Closed form solutions for buckling and postbuckling analysis of imperfect laminated composite plates with piezoelectric actuators

Buckling and postbuckling behavior of symmetric laminated composite plates with surface mounted and embedded piezoelectric actuators subjected to mechanical, thermal, electrical, and combined loads is studied. Formulation is based on the classical laminated plate theory with von-Karman non-linear kinematic relations. Initial geometrical imperfections are also accounted, and finally applying Galerkin procedure, the resulting equations are solved to obtain closed form expressions for non-linear equilibrium paths. Temperature dependency of thermo-mechanical properties is considered. Three cases of simply supported boundary conditions are investigated. Effects of in-plane compressive loading, temperature dependency and independency of properties, electrical loading, lay-up configuration, and geometric imperfection are discussed. Results for various states are verified with the known data in the literature.     

The effect of mechanical loading on the photoacoustic response from radial cracks in Vickers-indented Al2O3-SiC-TiC ceramics

The Vickers indentation zones in Al₂O₃-SiC-TiC ceramics were studied by scanning laser photoacoustic microscopy. It is shown that the method of photoacoustic microscopy with a piezoelectric detector is sensitive to external mechanical stresses. Variation of the photoacoustic response signal under the action of normal and tangent stresses in the vicinity of radial cracks was determined. The photoacoustic data can be used to estimate the stress intensity coefficients at the crack end.     

Endothelial cell alignment on cyclically-stretched silicone surfaces

Endothelial cells at the interface between the bloodstream and the vessel wall are continuously subjected to mechanical stimulation in vivo, and it widely recognised that such stimulation plays an important role in cardiovascular physiology. Cell deformation is induced by mechanical forces such as cyclic stretch, fluid shear stress, and transmural pressure. Although much of the work in this field has dealt with the effect of fluid shear stress, very little is known about how cyclic forces modulate and alter the morphology of single endothelial cells, and thereafter, how they effect the confluent layer of endothelial cells lining the vessel wall. The aim of this study is to investigate the response of endothelial cells when subjected to substrate deformation of similar magnitude to those experienced in vivo. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) were cultured on plasma-treated silicone strips and uni-axially cyclically stretched using a custom made mechanical device. Results showed that endothelial cells subject to 10% deformation for as little as 4 h reoriented perpendicular to the stretch direction. In addition, although no integrin coating was applied to the substrate, it was found that plasma-treated silicone provided a cell adhesion substrate comparable to the commonly used collagen type I. Thus the results show that the stretch stimulus alone affects the morphology of endothelial cells. Further studies are required to establish the relative importance of substrate strain vs. fluid flow stimuli.     

Yield behaviour of renewable biocomposites of dimer fatty acid-based polyamides with cellulose fibres

The yield behaviour of dimer acid-based polyamides (DAPA) and DAPA reinforced with cellulose fibres (CF) was examined in this study. Both dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) and tensile tests were used to follow the effect of strain rate or frequency, temperature and filler content on the transitions temperatures, the storage modulus and the yield stresses. The DMA results show that the storage modulus increases with increasing CF concentration. The tensile tests reveal that the yield stress is strain rate, temperature and CF concentration sensitive. Both activation enthalpy and activation volume calculated by the Eyring’s model reveal a slight increase of activation energy with increasing filler content and a decrease of the activation volume. A micromechanically-model was used to predict the yield stress of both DAPA and DAPA/cellulose composites. The model predictions of the yield stress are in good agreement with the experimental data.     

Rate-dependent phenomenological model for self-reinforced polymers

The visco-elastoplastic nature of self-reinforced polymers (SRPs) implies that their mechanical behaviour depends on strain rate. Such dependence, when significant, must be taken into account in order to predict the impact response of these materials. In this paper, the strain rate dependence of the mechanical behaviour of a self-reinforced polypropylene (SRPP) and a self-reinforced poly(ethylene terephthalate) (SRPET) is determined and constitutively modelled. To do this, stress–strain curves corresponding to constant strain rates are deduced for each material by using a characterization method presented and validated in previous works. The strain rate dependence of the stress–strain response is quantified based on the ‘strain rate sensitivity coefficient’, defined by G’Sell and Jonas for their material model for semi-crystalline polymers. Such dependence is found to be higher in the SRPET than in the SRPP and, moreover, in both materials it depends on strain. Finally, a modified phenomenological constitutive model based on the G’Sell–Jonas one is proposed. The results show that the modified model improves the prediction of the original model reproducing accurately the rate-dependent behaviour of both SRPs.     

Development of a high voltage sensor using a piezoelectrictransducer and a strain gage

The authors describe the principle and design of an AC high-voltage sensor. When an electric stress is applied, this sensor accurately detects the mechanical strain of a piezoelectric transducer on which a foil strain gage is cemented. Two types of these sensors were designed, and a high-voltage measuring system using them was manufactured for trial. To confirm the frequency response of the trial sensors, an impedance of the trial piezoelectric transducer was performed using a YHP impedance analyzer, and the response-confirmation test of its vibration mode was carried out at the same time. Theoretical and experimental analyses are discussed in terms of the relation between the strain on the piezoelectric transducer and the applied sinusoidal AC voltage. It was ascertained that the strain was directly proportional to the voltage measured, and it was found that the measured percentage errors were less than ±2% for voltages up to 26000 V_p-p