Mechanics properties of composite materials based on stacked microstructure of nacre

3D finite element models of composite materials are constructed based on the microstructure of the nacre of mollusc shells stacked with hexagonal aragonite platelets and organic thin interlayers. Three-point bending tests are simulated using this model. It is found that regardless of the respective modulus of hexagonal platelets or thin interlayers, the modulus of the composite structure meets a curve relationship with those of platelets and interlayers. And mechanics properties of the composite structure exhibit a remarkable scale effect. Finally, based on the mechanics parameters from experiments, it is confirmed that mechanics properties of the nacre reduce with the gradual decrease of the modulus of organic interlayers. But for the stiffness of the nacre, the dominated factor is the layer-by-layer crossed and stacked form of the structural design mechanism, and it is in agreement with experimental results.