A Sinusoidally-Architected Helicoidal Biocomposite
  A fibrous herringbone-modified helicoidal architecture is identified within the exocuticle of an impact-resistant crustacean appendage. This previously unreported composite microstructure, which features highly textured apatite mineral templated by an alpha-chitin matrix, provides enhanced stress redistribution and energy absorption over the traditional helicoidal design under compressive loading. Nanoscale toughening mechanisms are also identified using high load nanoindentation and in-situ TEM picoindentation. 
Nicholas A. Yaraghi, Nicol\'as Guar\'in-Zapata, Lessa K. Grunenfelder,   Eric Hintsala, Sanjit Bhowmick, Jon M. Hiller, Mark...
cond-mat.mtrl-sci