MIAERAL EE ENNEERIINC C ELSEVIER Materials Science and Engineering C 11(2000)13-18 Bio-inspired study of structural materials B L. Zhou Institute of Metal Research, International Center for Materials Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 72 Wenhua Road, Shenyang 110015, Accepted 20 September 1999 Abstract The terminology of materials study inspired by biological systems or phenomena is analyzed at first. It is pointed that the term bio-inspired may be better than the terms"bionic or"biomimetic', since the former is relatively easy to be accepted. The new trends of bio-inspired study of structural materials are analyzed in short. Some progress in bio-inspired design and processing of materials in this institute (IMRCAS)are summarized briefly in this talk, such as biomimetic design of worst bonding interface for composites dumbell-like whiskers simulating animal bone, fractal tree reinforcement by mimicry of branched roots in soil; etc The possibility of modification and recovery of materials by nonequilibrium bio-inspired treatment are further explored, including the inequilibrium process under transient heating, dissipative structure and self-organization process of open system, inspiration by living process, influence of high intensive electropulsing on the working life of materials, a possible way of fatigue recovery of materials and the healing effect of electropulsing in metals. Some tentative practice in biomaterial modification are also studied such as the reformed bamboo reinforced aluminium laminates, etc. a discussion on the methodology of bio-inspired study of materials consists briefly in th last part of the talk. C 2000 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved Keywords: Bio-inspired; Bionic; Biomimetic, Structural materials 1. Introduction Some progress in bio-inspired design and processing of materials in this institute(IMRCAS)are summarized briefly Biomaterials are generally understood as the materials in this talk [1-6] and the possibility of modification and for human body repairment, while in a broad sense, it is recovery of materials by nonequilibrium bio-inspired treat- lefined as the materials of those for bio-improvement, by ments are further explored biomolecules and bio-inspired The man-made primary materials simulating living or- gans or biological tissues appeared more than thousands of 2. Bio-inspired design and processing of materials ears ago. while the term "bionic describing these was originally composed of"bio-""and electr-onic", and the 2. 1. Optimum bonding and worst bonding (4,57 term“ biomimetic is from“bio'and“ mimetic.Some times, there are some arguments between scientists be cause of different understanding of the term "mimetic The biomimetic design of interface bonding takes th Some take the meaning in a narrow sense, while the others ad vantage of fibers with enlarged ends simulating animal in a broad sense. Nevertheless, the term"bio-inspired bone or fractal-tree structure mimicking tree root to cause relatively easy to be accepted with less argument for its stress transfer from matrix to fiber mainly by compression flexibility across the interfaces between enlarged ends or branches nd the matrix condition, or, in other words, the stress transfer in this case is not sensitive to the bonding state of the interface even it Fax:+86-23891320 orst bond E- mail address: bizhou @imr accn (B L. Zhou mum bone 0928-4931/00/Ssee front matter o 2000 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved PI:S0928-4931(00)00136-3Materials Science and Engineering C 11 2000 13–18 Ž . www.elsevier.comrlocatermsec Bio-inspired study of structural materials B.L. Zhou) Institute of Metal Research, International Center for Materials Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 72 Wenhua Road, Shenyang 110015, People’s Republic of China Accepted 20 September 1999 Abstract The terminology of materials study inspired by biological systems or phenomena is analyzed at first. It is pointed that the term ‘‘bio-inspired’’ may be better than the terms ‘‘bionic’’ or ‘‘biomimetic’’, since the former is relatively easy to be accepted. The new trends of bio-inspired study of structural materials are analyzed in short. Some progress in bio-inspired design and processing of materials in this institute IMRCAS are summarized briefly in this talk, such as biomimetic design of worst bonding interface for composites; Ž . dumbell-like whiskers simulating animal bone; fractal tree reinforcement by mimicry of branched roots in soil; etc. The possibility of modification and recovery of materials by nonequilibrium bio-inspired treatment are further explored, including the nonequilibrium process under transient heating, dissipative structure and self-organization process of open system, inspiration by living process, influence of high intensive electropulsing on the working life of materials, a possible way of fatigue recovery of materials and the healing effect of electropulsing in metals. Some tentative practice in biomaterial modification are also studied such as the reformed bamboo reinforced aluminium laminates, etc. A discussion on the methodology of bio-inspired study of materials consists briefly in the last part of the talk. q 2000 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved. Keywords: Bio-inspired; Bionic; Biomimetic; Structural materials 1. Introduction Biomaterials are generally understood as the materials for human body repairment, while in a broad sense, it is defined as the materials of those for bio-improvement, by biomolecules and bio-inspired. The man-made primary materials simulating living or￾gans or biological tissues appeared more than thousands of years ago, while the term ‘‘bionic’’ describing these was originally composed of ‘‘bio-’’and electr-‘‘onic’’, and the term ‘‘biomimetic’’ is from ‘‘bio’’ and ‘‘mimetic’’. Some￾times, there are some arguments between scientists be￾cause of different understanding of the term ‘‘mimetic’’. Some take the meaning in a narrow sense, while the others in a broad sense. Nevertheless, the term ‘‘bio-inspired’’ is relatively easy to be accepted with less argument for its flexibility. ) Fax: q86-23891320. E-mail address: bizhou@imr.ac.cn B.L. Zhou . Ž . Some progress in bio-inspired design and processing of materials in this institute IMRCAS are summarized briefly Ž . in this talk 1–6 and the possibility of modification and w x recovery of materials by nonequilibrium bio-inspired treat￾ments are further explored. 2. Bio-inspired design and processing of materials 2.1. Optimum bonding and worst bonding 4,5 [ ] The biomimetic design of interface bonding takes the advantage of fibers with enlarged ends simulating animal bone or fractal-tree structure mimicking tree root to cause stress transfer from matrix to fiber mainly by compression across the interfaces between enlarged ends or branches and the matrix, without special requirement to the bonding condition, or, in other words, the stress transfer in this case is not sensitive to the bonding state of the interface even it is badly designed. Consequently, it is better to call it ‘‘worst bonding’’ in comparison with the so-called ‘‘opti￾mum bonding’’. 0928-4931r00r$ - see front matter q 2000 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved. PII: S0928- 4931 00 00136-3 Ž