Biological materials and mechanics: An overview

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• Marc Meyers, University of California at San Diego
• Thursday 11 October 2012, 16:00-17:00
• Mott Seminar Room, Cavendish Laboratory, Department of Physics.

If you have a question about this talk, please contact Stephen Walley.

The approach used by Materials Science and Engineering is revealing new aspects in the structure and properties of biological materials. The integration of advanced characterization, mechanical testing, and modeling methods can rationalize heretofore unexplained aspects of these structures. The nascent areas of Biological Materials Science and Mechanobiology encompass three thrusts: Biological (or natural) materials: materials that comprise cells, extracellular material, organs, and organisms; Biomaterials: synthetic materials used to correct, repair, or supplement natural functions in organisms; Bioinspired design: this area encompasses the materials and structures inspired in biological systems and/or functions. We demonstrate the power of this methodology with examples from our research: biomineralization and toughness of shells, avian beaks and feathers, fish scales, and osteoderms. We illustrate bioinspired applications with a few selected applications: Velcro, ceramic-polymer composites inspired on abalone nacre, and synthetic attachment devices inspired on the gecko.

This talk is part of the Physics and Chemistry of Solids Group series.

This talk is included in these lists:

• All Cavendish Laboratory Seminars
• All Talks (aka the CURE list)
• Centre for Health Leadership and Enterprise
• Featured lists
• ME Seminar
• Mott Seminar Room, Cavendish Laboratory, Department of Physics
• Neurons, Fake News, DNA and your iPhone: The Mathematics of Information
• Physics and Chemistry of Solids Group
• School of Physical Sciences
• Thin Film Magnetic Talks

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