Research on the microstructure of insect cuticle and the strength of a biomimetic preformed hole composite.

The insect cuticle is a typical natural composite with excellent strength, stiffness, and fracture toughness. Scanning electron microscope observation of the microstructure of Hydrophilidae (an insect) cuticle showed several unique plies and structural characteristics, which may provide available information to the design of advanced composites. The microstructure found in the vicinity of pore canals in the insect cuticle was used for the design of the composite laminate with a hole. Compared with the composite laminate with a normally drilled hole, it was found that the strength of the specially designed composite laminate increases markedly, which is of important significance to the design of high-performance composites.