| The purpose of this study was to analyze the improved mechanical properties of the Strombus gigas over non-biogenic aragonite (CaCO3) by controlling and analyzing the presence of the proteinaceous matrix and water.; The specific objectives of this study were to (1) estimate the relative increase of mechanical properties from structure and proteinaceous interface of the Strombus gigas, (2) determine if ions in aqueous solution of stress redistribution from the presence of water was the primary mechanism in increasing work of fracture, (3) identify if water activates any viscoelastic effects from the proteinaceous matrix, and (4) identify if the fractal dimension can discern if toughening mechanisms are present in the complex composite.; The Strombus gigas system was chosen for this study because it has demonstrated a 10000-fold increase in the amount of energy to cause failure over monoliths composed of the same basic material. It was concluded that the presence of the protein interface causes an order of magnitude increase in work of fracture, while water increases the work of fracture approximately two-fold over just the protein alone. The water appears to redistribute the stress throughout the structure lowering local stress distribution which was demonstrated by the use of stressing rates. Finally, the fractal dimension appears to be able to discern between some toughening mechanisms occurring in this material. |
