Blast performance of a bio-mimetic panel based on the structure of nacre – A numerical study

Abstract

Nacre, the tough protective layer of a mollusk seashell, has a fracture toughness that is several orders of magnitude higher than brittle aragonite, a ceramic that accounts for 95% of its composition. As such, it possesses characteristics that may be highly beneficial for protective structural applications. In this research, several structural characteristics from nacre’s brick and mortar-like microstructure are mimicked with the goal of enhancing the stiffness and fracture toughness of a monolithic ceramic panel under blast loading. These features include the mineral bridges connecting the adjacent brick-like tablets for enhancing the stiffness of the panel, the multi-layered structure for ..