Experience nature as a basis for building strong composite structures

Abstract

Introduction. The article is devoted an analytical overview of the methods of applying the Nature solutions for designing structures made of plastics reinforced with fibers, in particular, using rational curved fiber trajectories. The first section provides an overview of different structural models and some approaches to the micromechanics of composites. Materials and methods. Sections 2-7 discuss: analysis of rational elastic-strength properties of wood and composites for crack arrest by weak interface; methods for constructing curved paths of fibers of “flowing holes”; analyzes the applied and promising technologies for manufacturing attachment points, in which holes are formed using curvilinear fiber paths; “nature-inspired” principles of optimal design of pipe composite structures similar in structure to ladder of bamboo stalk; examples of the effective use of fibrous composites in elastic elements such as leaf springs; developing additive technologies for 3D printing of fiber composite parts with fiber laying along calculated trajectories. Results. Each section of the article presents conclusions related to the peculiarities of composites structures calculation and design: calculations show that in order to increase the crack resistance of fibrous composites, it is necessary to significantly increase the shear characteristics of the binder and strive for rational properties created by Nature in wood; as a result of the calculation, it turns out that the maximum stress per fiber at the optimal reinforcement structure becomes about 3–4 times less than with a uniform rectilinear laying; rational reinforcement leads to a significant reduction in local stresses per fiber, elimination of splits and damages of fibers and an increase in the carrying capacity of the assembly; it has been shown that the bamboo rings are arranged to prevent the barrel from splitting from bending compressive stresses and tangential stresses when the barrel is twisted by wind load; analyzed the relationship of equal-strength profiling with Leonardo’s rule for tree crown branching. The works on creation of bio-similar shape and structure of curvilinear reinforcement of specimens for correct determination of unidirectional composites strength at tension along fibres were discussed; analyzed the role of composite technologies in modern mechanical engineering, in particular, in the creation of composite structures in open space. Conclusions. The article is devoted to the analysis of the tasks of fibrous composites macromechanics, therefore, in the opinion of the authors, the three most promising and related areas in macromechanics of composites that require further research are biomechanics of strength, computer modeling of optimal structures and technological mechanics of composites.