About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2027 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
| Symposium
|
Biological Materials Science
|
| Presentation Title |
Emergent and Adaptive Mechanical Reinforcement in Biological Networks |
| Author(s) |
Ottman Tertuliano |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Ottman Tertuliano |
| Abstract Scope |
Nanoscale structural heterogeneity is a ubiquitous design motif in biogenic materials, but its contribution to structural adaptation is poorly understood. Using bone as a model hierarchical system, we combine in-situ fatigue loading with synchrotron X-ray tomography and radiography (21nm-100ms) to directly investigate crack propagation originating at the nanoscale. We find that mineralized collagen fibrils decelerate crack growth via branching along fibril axes, while orthogonal cracks stall at interfibrillar interfaces. These mechanisms suppress damage accumulation up to tenfold and bridge the timescale gap between damage and cell-mediated repair. We further find that the lacuno-canalicular network, typically viewed as a fluid-transport and mechanosensory system is asymmetrically hypermineralized. We hypothesize that these mineral deposits are signatures of osteocyte-mediated remodeling that redistributes stress around this porous sensing network. These collective mechanisms reveal how nanoscale interfaces and targeted remodeling jointly delay fatigue, elucidating design principles for adaptive biogenic and bioinspired materials. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: |
| Keywords |
Biomaterials, Mechanical Properties, |