Three-dimensional Voronoi model of a nacre-mimetic composite structure under impulsive loading

Abstract

Nacre, the inner layer of mollusk shells holds the key to the development of an effective composite system for protecting structures from extreme loads due to its superior fracture toughness, despite its brittle constituents. It is known that the hard mineral tablets provide structural rigidity, while the soft organic polymer matrix provides the mechanisms to mitigate damages and dissipate energy uniformly across the structure. Nacre's composite structure is arranged to have multiple laminates and three dimensional polygonal tablets bonded with organic adhesives to maximize its load sharing capability. This paper presents a novel 3D Voronoi model of an Aluminum/Vinylester composite structure..