Numerical Study of the Mechanical Response of Turtle Shell

The turtle shell is an amazing structure optimized through the long-term evolution by nature. This paper reports the mechanical response of the shell (Red-ear turtle) to static and dynamic loads, respectively. It is found that the turtle shell under a compressive load yields the maximum vertical displacement at the rear end, but the vertical displacement at the front end is only half of that at the rear end. The maximum horizontal displacement of the shell also occurs at the rear end. It is believed that such a deformation pattern is helpful for protecting the turtle's internal organs and its head. The principal stress directions in the inside surface of the shell under a compressive load are almost the same as those of the biofiber distribution in the inside surface, which results in the strong bending resistance of the turtle shell.