Impact Performance of a Plate Structure with Coconut-Inspired Microchannels
Source abstract
Abstract
Very few studies have been conducted in the past to reveal the underlying mechanism that causes the high-impact performance of coconuts as a natural composite material and a structure. The goal of this study is to understand the dominant microstructures of coconuts with respect to mechanical impact. In this study, we use a high-resolution X-ray computed tomography (CT) machine in scanning the microstructures and analyzing the patterns of microchannels in coconut shells. By using the established patterns, we model a novel plate structure with coconut-inspired microchannels. Numerical simulation elucidates a significant improvement in crashworthiness. The microchannel design opens a path to further developing self-healing composites and intelligent composites with sensing elements embedded in the channels.
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Research context
OpenAlex topics: Electrospun Nanofibers in Biomedical Applications · Coconut Research and Applications · Cellular and Composite Structures
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
Affiliations
Department of Computer & Information Science, University of Michigan-Dearborn, Dearborn, MI 48128, USA
Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Fairborn, OH 45433, USA
Funding
National Science Foundation
References (22)
Show source-provided references
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