Selective Patterns for Circular Dimples Distribution As a Means to Enhance Structural Mechanical Response of Tubular Components

Abstract

Abstract Bioinspired materials and structures subjected to external loads tend to exhibit unprecedented mechanical behavior, especially impact loads and extreme quasi-static forces. It has been observed that certain bioinspired structures may withstand excessive compressive loads with little or moderately inelastic response due to their complex materials’ architecture that extends at various length scales. On the other hand, nature inspired patterns may be an alternative to improve mechanical response, especially in the form of selective notches/dimples distribution over the surface of tubular members. The main goal behind this idea seeks to overturn the deleterious effects of circular notches or dimples on tubular components’ strength due to interaction of stress concentration fields generated at the hole’edges. By selecting an optimized pattern of dimples distribution along the tubular component, an interesting behavior can be observed, as the interaction of stress concentrations tend to cancel out each other rather than add them up and bring the structural component to premature failure. In this exploratory study, a numerical investigation is carried out on notched tubular members models with surface circular dimples, strategically distributed following bioinspired patterns typically observed in nature such as hexagonal, honeycomb and net patterns. Additionally, this study pursues to gain understanding on the possible beneficial effects that this type of selective dimples distribution might bring in stressed components not only made of metallic alloys, but also biological materials such as blood vessels replacement nonsynthetic, decellularized graft whose mechanical response can be greatly enhanced.