THE MECHANICAL-PROPERTIES OF NATURAL MATERIALS .1. MATERIAL PROPERTY CHARTS

Authors
ASHBY MF GIBSON LJ WEGST U OLIVE R
Citation
Mf. Ashby et al., THE MECHANICAL-PROPERTIES OF NATURAL MATERIALS .1. MATERIAL PROPERTY CHARTS, Proceedings - Royal Society. Mathematical and physical sciences, 450(1938), 1995, pp. 123-140
Citations number
73
Categorie Soggetti
Multidisciplinary Sciences",Physics
Journal title
Proceedings - Royal Society. Mathematical and physical sciences → ACNP
ISSN journal
09628444
Volume
450
Issue
1938
Year of publication
1995
Pages
123 - 140
Database
ISI
SICI code
0962-8444(1995)450:1938<123:TMONM.>2.0.ZU;2-Z
Abstract
The mechanical properties of natural materials as diverse as wood, mus cle, shell and bone are plotted on material-property charts which show the relationships between properties. Performance indices are used to identify the load-bearing applications in which each performs particu larly well. By these criteria, many natural materials are superior to the man-made materials of engineering. A companion paper examines some of the origins of this superiority; an explanation is sought in an an alysis of the way structure influences properties.