Stiffness and Strength of Suture Joints in Nature

We have a new paper published, " Stiffness and strength of suture joints in nature, " PHYSICAL REVIEW E

84, 062904 (2011) by Yaning Li, Christine Ortiz, and Mary C. Boyce.
Download the paper from here:

http://web.mit.edu/cortiz/www/publications.html. We welcome any comments to cortiz@mit.edu.

Abstract: Suture joints are remarkable mechanical structures found throughout nature composed of compliant

interlocking seams connecting stiffer components. This study investigates the underlying mechanisms and

the role of geometry governing the unique mechanical behavior of suture joints. Analytical and numerical

composite models are formulated for two suture geometries characterized by a single repeating wavelength (e.g.,

triangular and rectangular). Stiffness, strength, and local stress distributions are predicted to assess variations

in deformation and failure mechanisms. A unique homogeneous stress field is observed throughout both the

skeletal and interfacial components of the triangular geometry, thus providing advantages in load transmission,

weight, stiffness, strength, energy absorption, and fatigue over the rectangular geometry. The results obtained

have relevance to biomimetic design and optimization, suture growth and fusion, and evolutionary phenotype

diversity.