Physics – Biological Physics
Scientific paper
2009-05-12
Physics
Biological Physics
Scientific paper
Protein-based natural materials and fibers display superior strength and toughness, which have been attributed to the parallel staggered arrangement of microstructure, as well as to the unique force-extension behavior of protein-rich organic matrix. It has been suggested in recent years that the sawtooth behavior in the force-extension curve of protein may play a major role in the toughness of natural materials. To examine this hypothesis, here we conduct rigorous fracture mechanics simulations and theoretical analysis of crack propagation in a protein-like material to show that the sawtooth behavior actually only has a minimal effect on the fracture toughness. Instead, we show that it is the combination of extraordinary extensibility due to domain unfolding and significant force increase at the stage of backbone stretching that gives the high steady-state fracture toughness of a protein-like material. In fact, we show that an infinite steady-state fracture toughness, indicative of a transition of failure mode from crack propagation to uniform rupture near the theoretical strength of the material, can be achieved for protein-like materials with proper designs of domain unfolding and backbone stretching.
Gao Huajian
Huang Yonggang
Liu Bin
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