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Title: The natural armors of fish: A comparison of the lamination pattern and structure of scales

Abstract

Fish scales exhibit a unique balance of flexibility, strength and toughness, which is essential to provide protection without encumbering locomotion. Although the mechanical behavior and structure of this natural armor are of recent interest, a comparison of these qualities from scales of different fish species has not been reported. In this investigation the armor of fish with different locomotion, size and protection needs were analyzed. Scales from the Arapaima gigas, the tarpon (Megalops atlanticus) and the carp (Cyprinus carpio) were compared in terms of the stacking sequence of individual plies and their microstructure. The scales were also compared with respect to anatomical position to distinguish site-specific functional differences. Results show that the lamination sequence of plies for the carp and tarpon exhibit a Bouligand structure with relative rotation of 75° between consecutive plies. The arapaima scales exhibit a cross-ply structure, with 90° rotation between adjacent plies. In addition, results indicate that the volume fraction of reinforcement, the number of plies and the variations in thickness with anatomical position are unique amongst the three fish. These characteristics should be considered in evaluations focused on the mechanical behavior.

Authors:
; ; ; ; ;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States). Environmental Molecular Sciences Lab. (EMSL)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
1414533
Report Number(s):
PNNL-SA-129872
Journal ID: ISSN 1751-6161; 49075
DOE Contract Number:  
AC05-76RL01830
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 73; Journal Issue: C; Journal ID: ISSN 1751-6161
Publisher:
Elsevier
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory

Citation Formats

Murcia, Sandra, Lavoie, Ellen, Linley, Tim, Devaraj, Arun, Ossa, E. Alex, and Arola, D. The natural armors of fish: A comparison of the lamination pattern and structure of scales. United States: N. p., 2017. Web. doi:10.1016/j.jmbbm.2016.09.025.
Murcia, Sandra, Lavoie, Ellen, Linley, Tim, Devaraj, Arun, Ossa, E. Alex, & Arola, D. The natural armors of fish: A comparison of the lamination pattern and structure of scales. United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmbbm.2016.09.025
Murcia, Sandra, Lavoie, Ellen, Linley, Tim, Devaraj, Arun, Ossa, E. Alex, and Arola, D. 2017. "The natural armors of fish: A comparison of the lamination pattern and structure of scales". United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmbbm.2016.09.025.
@article{osti_1414533,
title = {The natural armors of fish: A comparison of the lamination pattern and structure of scales},
author = {Murcia, Sandra and Lavoie, Ellen and Linley, Tim and Devaraj, Arun and Ossa, E. Alex and Arola, D.},
abstractNote = {Fish scales exhibit a unique balance of flexibility, strength and toughness, which is essential to provide protection without encumbering locomotion. Although the mechanical behavior and structure of this natural armor are of recent interest, a comparison of these qualities from scales of different fish species has not been reported. In this investigation the armor of fish with different locomotion, size and protection needs were analyzed. Scales from the Arapaima gigas, the tarpon (Megalops atlanticus) and the carp (Cyprinus carpio) were compared in terms of the stacking sequence of individual plies and their microstructure. The scales were also compared with respect to anatomical position to distinguish site-specific functional differences. Results show that the lamination sequence of plies for the carp and tarpon exhibit a Bouligand structure with relative rotation of 75° between consecutive plies. The arapaima scales exhibit a cross-ply structure, with 90° rotation between adjacent plies. In addition, results indicate that the volume fraction of reinforcement, the number of plies and the variations in thickness with anatomical position are unique amongst the three fish. These characteristics should be considered in evaluations focused on the mechanical behavior.},
doi = {10.1016/j.jmbbm.2016.09.025},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1414533}, journal = {Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials},
issn = {1751-6161},
number = C,
volume = 73,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 2017},
month = {Fri Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 2017}
}