Design and characterization of a bio-inspired composite

Biomimetic is a design approach to solve engineering problems, by reproducing characteristics found in nature. Indeed in nature, it is possible to find many smart systems, which can be mimicked to build new materials, with potential applications to many engineering fields. Examples of interesting natural materials are bone, nacre, wood. Bone, in particular, is a very intriguing material for its combination of mechanical properties, and in particular for its remarkable toughness, which depends on its complex hierarchical structure, with different levels ranging from the molecular scale to the macroscale. At the micro-scale, bone is characterized by the presence of a typical cylindrical feature called osteon, which plays an important role in determining the bone fracture behavior. Object of the present work is a new composite material, inspired to the micro-structure of human bone. Here we show the design, manufacturing and characterization of a new composite material, with the aim of replicating some particular toughening mechanisms occurring in the micro-structure of bone; also, we show the design, realization and characterization of a conventional composite, to make a comparison.