Next Lecture
Thuesday, August 17, 2017, 10:00, Conference Room B
Multi-Scale Structural Gradients Optimize
the Bio-Mechanical Functionality of the Spider Fang
Dr. Benny Bar-On
Laboratory for the Mechanics of Complex Materials
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
Lecture outline:
The spider fang is a natural injection needle, built as a multi-scale composite material with outstanding mechanical properties. In this study we introduce a hierarchical modeling for the spider fang, based on computer tomography and SAXS measurement, and analyze the correlation between the fang architectural motifs and its macroscopic elastic behavior. Analytical methods and Finite-Element simulations are used for the mechanical analysis and the effects of small- and large-scale structural gradients on the macroscopic mechanical properties are investigated.
It is found that the multi-scale structural gradients of the spider fang optimize its performances in term of load-bearing stiffness and strength, and that the naturally evolved fang architecture provides optimal mechanical properties compared to other alternative structural configurations.
