Micro Hierarchical Structure and Mechanical Property of Sparrow Hawk (Accipiter nisus) Feather Shaft

In this study, the real 3D model of the feather shaft that is composed of medulla and cortex is characterized by X-ray computer tomography, and the structural features are quantitatively analyzed. Compression and tensile tests are conducted to evaluate the mechanical performance of the feather shaft and cortex at different regions. The analysis of the 3D model shows that the medulla accounts for similar to 70% of the shaft volume and exhibits a closed-cell foam-like structure, with a porosity of 59%. The cells in the medulla show dodecahedron and decahedron morphology and have an equivalent diameter of similar to 30 mu m. In axial compression, the presence of medulla enhances the shaft stability. Especially, the combined effect of the medulla and cortex increases the buckling strength of the middle and distal shaft by 77% and 141%, respectively, compared to the calculated value of the shaft using linear mixed rule. The tensile properties of the cortex along the shaft axis are anisotropic because of the different fiber structures. As the fiber orientation gradually becomes uniform in the axial direction, the Young?s modulus and tensile strength of the cortex on the dorsal gradually increase from calamus to the distal shaft, and the fracture mode changes from tortuous fracture to V-shaped fracture. The cortex on the lateral shows the opposite trend, that is the distal shaft becomes weaker due to fiber tangles.

Automated summary

This study characterized the real 3D model of the feather shaft composed of medulla and cortex using X-ray computer tomography and conducted compression and tensile tests to evaluate mechanical performance. The presence of medulla enhances shaft stability in axial compression, and the cortex shows anisotropic tensile properties along the shaft axis.