The deformation mode and strengthening mechanism of compression in the beetle elytron plate

For the development of lightweight biomimetic functional-structural materials, the compressive deformation mode of beetle elytron plates (BEPs) and their strengthening mechanism of high energy absorption were investigated, with the following results: compared with honeycomb plates, the compressive strength and the energy absorption properties of BEPs are significantly increased. This is because in a BEP, the hollow trabeculae with high torsional stiffness cause the deformation behavior to be dominated by compression, generating a convex curve with three half-waves, which is consistent with the deformation of the honeycomb walls. This study reveals not only the compressive deformation mode and the mechanism of high energy absorption in BEPs but also the relationship between the biological prototype of a BEP and its function. The findings show that BEPs represent a significant improvement over honeycomb plates and show potential for widespread application as novel energy-absorbing sandwich structures. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.