Work

Unraveling the performance mysteries of bionic triangular heterogeneous suture interfaces

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Natural suture structures exhibit exceptional mechanical properties at interfaces, yet existing research predominantly focuses on homogeneous interfaces, with heterogeneous counterparts receiving limited attention. Inspired by the triangular suture structure—renowned for enhancing stiffness, strength, and stress uniformity—this study pioneers bio-inspired triangular suture interfaces with heterogeneous material combinations and their composites. Using multi-material 3D printing, we fabricated these structures and systematically investigated the effects of suture frequency and material properties on their mechanical performance through tensile testing, three-point bending, and finite element analysis. Our results demonstrate that adjusting suture frequency and material composition modulates mechanical properties by up to an order of magnitude. Notably, composites with high suture frequency and soft material (e.g., Ag95 at θ=45°) retain tensile strength while significantly improving flexural flexibility. We further propose predictive equations and a bio-inspired design strategy to tailor the mechanical behavior of these interfaces. This work advances the development of bio-mimetic heterogeneous materials and offers transformative insights for engineering applications, such as graft scaffold design.

Source: Materials & Design

DOI: 10.1016/j.matdes.2025.115012

Authors: Qingrong Liu, Yansong Chen, Qingping Liu, Xueli Zhou, Luquan Ren

Institutions: Chifeng University, Jilin University

Language: English

Topic: Advanced Materials and Mechanics

Subfield: Mechanical Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,650

Funders: National Natural Science Foundation of China, Department of Science and Technology of Jilin Province