Fracture Mechanics of Nacre-Inspired Materials With Engineered Structural Defects

Abstract

The development of high-performance structural materials is a key challenge in materials engineering. In particular, the concurrent enhancement of strength and ductility, which are often mutually exclusive in traditional materials, remains difficult. While multi-element composite approaches have enabled mechanical enhancement, they frequently require complex manufacturing processes. Drawing inspiration from nacre's “brick-and-mortar” architecture, which features a periodic arrangement of hard and soft phases, we developed a biomimetic segmented defect design strategy. This structural optimization approach facilitates the precise regulation of ductility through defect engineering rather than compositional modification. Using discrete element modeling-based numerical simulations, we systematically examined the tensile fracture behavior of nacre-inspired defect-engineered structures. The data showed that controlled defect introduction enhances ductility by 30%–50% while maintaining material strength and stability. This defect design mechanism thus represents a promising approach for fabricating strong and tough engineering materials through geometry-driven property optimization.