About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2026 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
| Symposium
|
Bio-Nano Interfaces and Engineering Applications
|
| Presentation Title |
Structural Characterization and Mechanical Design Strategies of Land Snail Shells |
| Author(s) |
Yu-Lin Lai, Chang-Yu Sun |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Yu-Lin Lai |
| Abstract Scope |
Mollusk shells represent remarkable examples of natural biological armor, offering exceptional protection due to their hierarchical microstructures with mineral-organic interfaces. Their mechanical designs have thus attracted numerous studies and inspired biomimetic applications. Despite extensive investigation, materials scientists have largely focused on marine mollusk shells, leaving terrestrial mollusk shells relatively unexplored. In this study, we address this gap by performing comprehensive structural and mechanical analyses on land snail shells. Through microscopy and crystal orientation characterization, we demonstrate that the cross-lamellar and nacre structures differ from the same corresponding layers in the typically more robust but much heavier marine mollusk shells. Mechanical properties measured from bending and indentation tests are further correlated with the structural components, and finite element analyses are performed to reveal the underlying mechanisms. By comparing the biomineral architectures of land snail shells with marine mollusk shells, this study provides implications for the design principles of lightweight armor. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: |
| Keywords |
Biomaterials, Characterization, Composites |