Post #3633742

Bivalve hinges have to be very resilient, considering the animal's very existence depends on keeping the valves attached and articulated. One team of researchers mechanically opened and closed a freshwater mussel shell 1.5 million times, finding no signs of cracking or deformation from the strain! They found that the mussel uses a fan-shaped structure between the valves to deflect stresses. In the crystal of the shell, a complex fabric of mineral fibers are wrapped in organic materials that act kind of like the reinforcing rebar of concrete, to allow the structure to deform rather than fracture. Engineers could use this as inspiration for more resilient hinge designs! #clamFacts https://en.ustc.edu.cn/info/1150/5111.htm