Performance of Fish Scale-Inspired Armour Subjected to Impact Loading by Different Impactor Shapes: A Numerical Investigation

This paper investigates the impact performance of a hybrid scale–tissue structure inspired by elasmoid fish scales. Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) acted as the hard scales, whereas thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) mimicked the soft tissue. Low-velocity impact scenarios were investigated using...

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Main Authors: Hari Bahadur Dura, Paul J. Hazell, Hongxu Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Materials Proceedings
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4605/20/1/4
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author Hari Bahadur Dura
Paul J. Hazell
Hongxu Wang
author_facet Hari Bahadur Dura
Paul J. Hazell
Hongxu Wang
author_sort Hari Bahadur Dura
collection DOAJ
description This paper investigates the impact performance of a hybrid scale–tissue structure inspired by elasmoid fish scales. Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) acted as the hard scales, whereas thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) mimicked the soft tissue. Low-velocity impact scenarios were investigated using a commercially available software, ANSYS LS-Dyna. The effect of indenter shape (conical, hemispherical, and flat head) was studied at three impact energy levels (50 J, 75 J, and 100 J). The specific energy absorbed for the conical indenter was the highest. The peak force for the conical, hemispherical, and flat-head indenters at an impact energy of 100 J was 6.0 kN, 5.4 kN, and 4.5 kN, respectively. The primary failure modes were shear failure and tensile breaking of the scales. The present study highlights the effect of indenter shape on the impact behaviour of a fish scale-inspired structure.
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spelling doaj-art-5f47bd0d7eae45ea833aa28b5fb3deb12025-08-20T02:21:07ZengMDPI AGMaterials Proceedings2673-46052025-03-01201410.3390/materproc2025020004Performance of Fish Scale-Inspired Armour Subjected to Impact Loading by Different Impactor Shapes: A Numerical InvestigationHari Bahadur Dura0Paul J. Hazell1Hongxu Wang2School of Engineering and Technology, The University of New South Wales, Canberra, ACT 2600, AustraliaSchool of Engineering and Technology, The University of New South Wales, Canberra, ACT 2600, AustraliaSchool of Engineering and Technology, The University of New South Wales, Canberra, ACT 2600, AustraliaThis paper investigates the impact performance of a hybrid scale–tissue structure inspired by elasmoid fish scales. Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) acted as the hard scales, whereas thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) mimicked the soft tissue. Low-velocity impact scenarios were investigated using a commercially available software, ANSYS LS-Dyna. The effect of indenter shape (conical, hemispherical, and flat head) was studied at three impact energy levels (50 J, 75 J, and 100 J). The specific energy absorbed for the conical indenter was the highest. The peak force for the conical, hemispherical, and flat-head indenters at an impact energy of 100 J was 6.0 kN, 5.4 kN, and 4.5 kN, respectively. The primary failure modes were shear failure and tensile breaking of the scales. The present study highlights the effect of indenter shape on the impact behaviour of a fish scale-inspired structure.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4605/20/1/4bio-inspired designimpactor shapesprotective structurecomposite structure
spellingShingle Hari Bahadur Dura
Paul J. Hazell
Hongxu Wang
Performance of Fish Scale-Inspired Armour Subjected to Impact Loading by Different Impactor Shapes: A Numerical Investigation
Materials Proceedings
bio-inspired design
impactor shapes
protective structure
composite structure
title Performance of Fish Scale-Inspired Armour Subjected to Impact Loading by Different Impactor Shapes: A Numerical Investigation
title_full Performance of Fish Scale-Inspired Armour Subjected to Impact Loading by Different Impactor Shapes: A Numerical Investigation
title_fullStr Performance of Fish Scale-Inspired Armour Subjected to Impact Loading by Different Impactor Shapes: A Numerical Investigation
title_full_unstemmed Performance of Fish Scale-Inspired Armour Subjected to Impact Loading by Different Impactor Shapes: A Numerical Investigation
title_short Performance of Fish Scale-Inspired Armour Subjected to Impact Loading by Different Impactor Shapes: A Numerical Investigation
title_sort performance of fish scale inspired armour subjected to impact loading by different impactor shapes a numerical investigation
topic bio-inspired design
impactor shapes
protective structure
composite structure
url https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4605/20/1/4
work_keys_str_mv AT haribahadurdura performanceoffishscaleinspiredarmoursubjectedtoimpactloadingbydifferentimpactorshapesanumericalinvestigation
AT pauljhazell performanceoffishscaleinspiredarmoursubjectedtoimpactloadingbydifferentimpactorshapesanumericalinvestigation
AT hongxuwang performanceoffishscaleinspiredarmoursubjectedtoimpactloadingbydifferentimpactorshapesanumericalinvestigation