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Hierarchical, multilayered cell walls reinforced by recycled silk cocoons enhance the structural integrity of honeybee combs.

ABSTRACT: We reveal the sophisticated and hierarchical structure of honeybee combs and measure the elastic properties of fresh and old natural honeycombs at different scales by optical microscope, environmental scanning electron microscope, nano/microindentation, and by tension and shear tests. We demonstrate that the comb walls are continuously strengthened and stiffened without becoming fragile by the addition of thin wax layers reinforced by recycled silk cocoons reminiscent of modern fiber-reinforced composite laminates. This is done to increase its margin of safety against collapse due to a temperature increase. Artificial engineering honeycombs mimic only the macroscopic geometry of natural honeycombs, but have yet to achieve the microstructural sophistication of their natural counterparts. The natural honeycombs serve as a prototype of truly biomimetic cellular materials with hitherto unattainable improvement in stiffness, strength, toughness, and thermal stability.

SUBMITTER: Zhang K

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2906885 | biostudies-other | 2010 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other

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Hierarchical, multilayered cell walls reinforced by recycled silk cocoons enhance the structural integrity of honeybee combs.

Zhang Kai K Duan Huiling H Karihaloo Bhushan L BL Wang Jianxiang J

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 20100503 21

We reveal the sophisticated and hierarchical structure of honeybee combs and measure the elastic properties of fresh and old natural honeycombs at different scales by optical microscope, environmental scanning electron microscope, nano/microindentation, and by tension and shear tests. We demonstrate that the comb walls are continuously strengthened and stiffened without becoming fragile by the addition of thin wax layers reinforced by recycled silk cocoons reminiscent of modern fiber-reinforced ...[more]

PMID: 20439765

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Project description:This paper is the outcome of experiments on the shear performance of reinforced concrete beams with approved composite-recycled aggregates. The strength grade of composite-recycled aggregate concrete (CRAC) was between 30 MPa and 60 MPa. The shear span-to-depth ratio varied from 1 to 3. The adaptability of HRB400 rebar, with critical yield strength of 400 MPa, used as stirrups was also verified. As the composite technology overcame the shortcomings of recycled coarse aggregate, CRAC had similar mechanical properties with those of conventional concrete. Details on the shear behaviors of test beams under a four-point loading test are presented. The results indicated that the changes of CRAC strain, stirrup strain, and shear-crack width depended on the failure patterns, which are controlled by the shear-span to depth ratio. The stirrups yield at the failure of reinforced CRAC beams. The shear cracking resistance and the shear capacity of reinforced CRAC beams can be predicted by the statistical equations. Based on the design codes GB50010, ACI318-19, Model Code 2010 and DIN-1045-1-2008 for conventional reinforced concrete beams, the shear strengths provided by CRAC and stirrups are statistical analyzed. The rationality of the design equations is examined by the utilization level of shear strength provided by CRAC. The maximum shear-crack widths are extracted from the test data of reinforced CRAC beams at normal service state. Comparatively, by specifying the lower limit of shear strength provided by the CRAC with various shear-span to depth ratios, China code GB50010 gives a rational method for utilizing CRAC. Under the premise that the design of shear capacity would give considerations to meet the normal serviceability, the factored strength of HRB400 rebar should be 360 MPa for the calculation of shear strength provided by stirrups. The design methods in codes of GB50010, ACI318-19 and Model Code 2010 are conservative for the shear capacity of reinforced CRAC beams.

Dataset Information

Hierarchical, multilayered cell walls reinforced by recycled silk cocoons enhance the structural integrity of honeybee combs.

Publications

Hierarchical, multilayered cell walls reinforced by recycled silk cocoons enhance the structural integrity of honeybee combs.

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