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Summary: The study was aimed at determining the osteotropic effects of diets containing snail meat as a sole protein source. In our experiment, we tested three different diets incorporating snail meat originating from Helix pomatia (HP), Cornu.aspesa maxima (CAM) and Cornu.aspersum aspersum (CAA) and compared these to a control diet (CON) in which casein was the source of protein. In all diets, the protein content amounted to 10%, as calculated on a dry weight basis. In the study, forty male Wistar rats with an initial body mass of 50 ± 2 g were randomly placed within the control and three experimental groups. After 28 days of experimental feeding, the rats were sacrificed, and the body mass, total skeletal density and body composition were recorded. Moreover, blood serum (osteocalcin, CTX) and isolated tibia (pQCT, DXA, 3D micro‐CT, 3‐point bending test) were stored for further analysis. The results reveal that a diet incorporating snail meat significantly decreased BMC (bone mineral content), as well as area of total skeleton and isolated tibia, and was without influence on BMD (bone mineral density). Furthermore, the 3D micro‐CT analysis of trabecular compartment documented a reduced Tb.Th (trabecular thickness), as well as Tb.N (trabecular number), and an increased Tb.Sp (trabecular separation). Beyond the aforementioned, the snail‐based diets had an influence upon the architectonical properties of the tibia—decreasing its resistance to mechanical loading. Finally, snail meat, when used as an alone source of protein, negatively influenced the metabolism of the bone tissue in growing animals—making bone smaller and weaker. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fibre metal laminates (FML) are the modern hybrid materials with potential wide range of applications in aerospace technology due to their excellent mechanical properties (particularly fatigue strength, resistance to impacts) and also excellent corrosion resistance. The study describes the resistance to low velocity impacts in Ti/CFRP laminates. Tested laminates were produced in autoclave process. The laminates were characterized in terms of their response to impacts in specified energy range (5J, 10J, 20J). The tests were performed in accordance with ASTM D7137 standard. The laminates were subjected to impacts by means of hemispherical impactor with diameter of 12,7 mm. The following values have been determined: impact force vs. time, maximum force and the force at which the material destruction process commences (Pi). It has been found that fibre titanium laminates are characterized by high resistance to impacts. This feature is associated with elasto-plastic properties of metal and high rigidity of epoxy - fibre composite. It has been observed that Ti/CFRP laminates are characterized by more instable force during impact in stage of stabilization of impactor-laminate system and stage of force growth that glass fibre laminates. It has been observed more stable force decrease in stage of stress relaxation and withdrawal of the impactor. In energy range under test, the laminates based on titanium with glass and carbon fibres reinforcement demonstrate similar and high resistance to low-velocity impact, measured by means of failure initiation force and impact maximum force. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact behaviour and damage characterization of carbon fibre reinforced aluminium hybrid laminates (Al/CFRP) in comparison to classic carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) at low-velocity and low-energy impact. Impact damage characteristic with damage initiation and progression, internal failure modes and understanding of the role of the metal layers in the impact behaviour under low-energy were examined and discussed. The damage mechanism of the tested laminates is very complex. There is an internal degradation of the material, with the plastic deformation in case of fibre metal laminates. Characteristic matrix cracks (bending and shearing cracks) running at the fibre–matrix interface in composite layers are the first damage mode. The critical damage mode is delaminations observed between composite layers with different orientation as well as delaminations at the metal–composite interface in fibre metal laminates. For the tested materials, particularly carbon fibre reinforced composites, the absorbed impact energy is mainly connected with elastic response and damage of the laminate. In case of fibre metal laminates the absorbed energy is also connected with plastic deformation of the laminate, occurring especially in the metal layers. High impact resistance of fibre metal laminates indicates that metal (aluminium) layers may prevent delamination propagation and impactor penetration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]