Numerical investigation of fracture behavior of beetle elytra

Design of the veins in an insect elytron has an important role in increasing the insect flight ability. Recent studies indicate that elytron is an optimal structure, preventing both crack initiation and propagation. But how does the elytron, as a brittle composite withstand the applied mechanical forces during flight? In this paper, the relationship between composition and mechanical properties of elytra from the beetles Tribolium and Tenebrio is investigated. For this purpose, a combination of linear-elastic material properties and the maximum principal stress failure criterion is used to simulate crack propagation in a numerical model of beetle’s elytra using X-FEM method. Our results show that the optimal patterns of the vein play a significant role in preventing crack propagation. The results may be helpful in design and fabrication of novel engineering structures with high strength to weight ratio.