Bio-inspired nacre and helicoidal composites: from structure to mechanical applications

Researchers and engineers have been fascinated by the way weak organic and inorganic components naturally combine to create strong and long-lasting structures for the past few decades. The helicoidal fiber-reinforced composite structure found in the cuticle that forms the skeleton of an arthropod and the nacre structure based on the brick-and-mortar architecture composing the inner layer of several mollusk shells are two of the most studied composite-based structures for drawing inspiration from and using the same to modify man-made materials. The structure, formation, and mechanical properties of the nacre- and cuticle-based bio-inspired composites are given in detail. The current study also examines how brick-and-mortar and helicoidal laminated bio-inspired composites are used structurally. The present review article will serve as a benchmark for future studies in the same area.