With only 1% protein by weight, tooth enamel is the most highly mineralized tissue in mammals. The focus of this study was to evaluate contributions of the proteins on the fracture resistance of this unique structural material. Sections of enamel were obtained from the cusps of human molars and the crack growth resistance was quantified using a conventional fracture mechanics approach with comp...

A systematic approach to computer-aidedmaterials design has formulated a new class of ultratough, weldable secondary hardened plate steels combining new levels of strength and toughness while meeting processability requirements. A theoretical design concept integrated the mechanism of precipitated nickel-stabilized dispersed austenite for transformation toughening in an alloy strengthened by co...

Mineralized collagen fibrils are highly conserved nanostructural building blocks of bone. By a combination of molecular dynamics simulation and theoretical analysis it is shown that the characteristic nanostructure of mineralized collagen fibrils is vital for its high strength and its ability to sustain large deformation, as is relevant to the physiological role of bone, creating a strong and t...

Electric tields can mtluence the fracture toughness offerroelectrics. For example, poled ferroelectrrcs cxhtbit fracture toughness anisotropy : the material is tougher for a crack parallel to the poling direction but less tough for a crack perpendicular to it. When an electric field is applied to a poled sample. a positive field reduces its fracture toughness but a negative field enhances it. P...