Modelling of the nature is developed at three levels. At the first level, a relatively simple approach is used to imitate a natural function such as healing human skin, which can then be used for healing a crack. At the second level, various models are created to produce a multifunctional component, for example, a biomimetic of shark skin, which can be adopted for a swimming suit that gives an increase in the swimming speed. At the same time the textile would be capable of repairing itself after a scratch or a puncture. At the third level, a model will be based on a more complex design. Most of the models developed try to predict and optimise self-healing behaviour of materials at the first level. Some of the most interesting work in that area is reviewed in Sections 3.1 and 3.2 and gives an example of such modelling with finite element analysis (FEA). No work has been reported on the second level models. Recently several approaches at third level modelling have been proposed and developed. A brief summary of these models is reviewed in Section 3.3.

Chapter Contents:

• 3.1 The first level models
• 3.1 The first level models
• 3.2 Example of modelling with finite element analysis (ANSYS code)
• 3.2 Example of modelling with finite element analysis (ANSYS code)
• 3.3 Third level models
• 3.3 Third level models
• References
• References

Inspec keywords: Monte Carlo methods; intelligent materials; finite element analysis; cracks; biomimetics

Other keywords: tapered double cantilever beam; cracks; fibre reinforced polymers; natural systems modeling; Monte Carlo simulations; biomimetic materials; finite element analysis; self-healing materials

Subjects: Fatigue, brittleness, fracture, and cracks; Fatigue, embrittlement, and fracture; Intelligent materials; Modelling and computer simulation of solid structure