Citrus fruit inspires a new energy-absorbing metal structure
It has been said that nature provides us with everything that we need. A new study may lend credence to that claim. Researchers have developed an aluminum hybrid that could be used to optimize technical components and safety materials. And the inspiration came from an unexpected source - the peel of the pomelo fruit (Citrus maxima). Pomelo fruits have a mass of one to two kilograms, but are able to withstand impact forces resulting from falls of over 10 meters. The fruit's impact resistance is mainly due to the hierarchical structuring of the peel, which is made up of a graded, fiber-reinforced foam. The new aluminum hybrid is the product of a bio-inspired approach, combining metals with different mechanical properties that reflect these naturally occurring structures and mimic the strength of the pomelo peel.