Bionic Structural Design as a Promising Way of Increasing the Mechanical Characteristics of the Surface Layers of Metal-Ceramic Composites.

The paper is devoted to the analysis of the structural features, which determine an increase in the strength and fracture energy of the surface layers of a NiCr-TiC metal-ceramic composite modified by a pulsed electron beam, from the standpoint of bionic design of composite structures. The analogy of the structure and ratio of the mechanical parameters of the components in the surface layers of this composite and the biological one (mollusc shells) is discussed. Using computer simulation, we show that the key factors determining the increase in the mechanical properties of the modified surface layers of a cermet composite are the geometric and mechanical parameters of ceramic inclusions. We have estimated the ranges of the values of these parameters, which provide the optimal ratio of strength, stiffness and fracture energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]