Heterogeneous Topologically Interlocked Materials: A New Class of Heterogeneous Materials

Topologically interlocked materials are a class of materials in which the load carrying capacity emerges from load transfer across a multitude of contact surfaces between a set of identical solid unit elements. Both biological [1] as well as man-made material systems [2, 3] based on this principle have been described in the past. In particular, man-made topologically interlocked materials can advantageously be constructed as assemblies of unit elements in the shape of platonic solids. Here, we discuss heterogeneous materials based on the concept of topological interlocking. Heterogeneous topologically interlocked materials can be constructed by the use of two (or more) different classes of unit elements, say a high modulus ceramics and a low modulus silicone rubber. We will describe manufacturing approaches for this class of materials and give a description of their properties. Heterogeneous topologically interlocked materials can also be constructed by the use of a single class of unit elements, but with each unit element possessing a distinct microstructure. We will describe manufacturing approaches for this class of materials and give a description of their properties. As described in [4] the concept of segmentation and assembly as underlying both homogeneous and heterogeneous topologically interlocked materials holds the promise to enable the design of materials outside the envelope of current material properties. We will discuss such opportunities.