Analysis and verification of a biomimetic design model based on fish skin

Abstract Many biological architectures are Bouligand structures, which comprise uniaxial fiber layers stacked in a periodic helical arrangement and are characterized by high damage resistance. As an effective flexible protective structure, fish skin is a Bouligand structure that protects the body while ensure flexibility during swimming and predation. In this paper, an analytical model inspired by fish skin is established based on previous studies, and the parameters for describing crack growth are determined. Then, mathematical expressions for the local stress intensity factors and plastic zone are used to predict how the helical stacking angle α influences the crack propagation. The results show that crack deflection and twisting improve the fracture toughness of the composite structure greatly, with the optimal fracture toughness being that for α = 60° – 70°. Moreover, biomimetic flexible composite structures inspired by fish skin are produced using silicone and Kevlar fibers. Scanning electron microscopy is used to observe the cross-sectional morphology of the composite structures, showing that the interfaces between the silicone and Kevlar fibers are highly compact. Results from experimental impact tests agree well with the predicted results.