Guest Seminar - Hierarchical Design Principles for Multifunctional Biocomposites - Dr. Israel Kellersztein

Abstract

Balancing strength and toughness remains a central challenge in the design of structural materials, as these properties are typically mutually exclusive: materials that resist deformation often fail catastrophically, while tougher materials tend to be weak. Structural biological materials such as exoskeletons, shells, and bones routinely achieve remarkable combinations of strength, toughness, and functionality through hierarchical organization, material gradients, and synergistic interfaces. In the first part of this talk, I will present our investigation into the multiscale architecture and mechanical performance of the scorpion pincer exoskeleton, highlighting evolved design strategies that mitigate the strength–toughness conflict. These insights reveal structure–property relationships that can guide the design of synthetic composites. In the second part, I will show how biologically inspired principles have been translated into sustainable, 3D-printed biocomposites. By integrating structural hierarchy across length scales, we demonstrate enhanced mechanical performance and multifunctionality. Together, these studies illustrate how nature offers not only design inspiration but a framework for rethinking how we approach materials development—pointing toward the next generation of damage-tolerant, bioinspired materials.