Mechanical property of a low carbon steel with biomimetic units in different shapes

Inspired by the superior biomechanical properties of some biological compositions, an attempt to improve the mechanical property of low carbon steel with biomimetic units was made by using a laser remelting process. Three kinds of shapes including ‘striation’, ‘spot’ and ‘gridding’, were chosen for forming the biomimetic units. Microstructure and microhardness examinations demonstrated that desirable microstructural changes and regular hardness distribution were acquired in the units. The results of tensile tests indicated that the biomimetic specimens had an improvement in the strength and ductility simultaneously. The beneficial influence of laser processed biomimetic units on tensile behavior can be attributed to the combined effects of the microstructural characteristics within the unit zone and the stress redistribution derived from the efficient stress transfer. By investigating the variation of plastic deformation in different regions of the specimens, the effect of unit shapes on tensile property was also compared and discussed.

► Low carbon steel with biomimetic units in different shapes was processed by laser.
► Good combination of strength and ductility was obtained in biomimetic samples.
► Mechanical property improvement was analyzed on basis of microstructural changes and stress transfer.
► Effect of unit shapes on tensile property was compared and discussed.