Department of Engineering, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Via Roma 29, 81031 Aversa, Italy.
Department of Research Infrastructures for Marine Biological Resources, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, 80121 Naples, Italy.
J R Soc Interface. 2023 Feb;20(199):20220673. doi: 10.1098/rsif.2022.0673. Epub 2023 Feb 1.
The skeletal plates of echinoids consist of a peculiar lightweight structure, called stereom, which is organized in a porous three-dimensional lattice-like meshwork. The stereom is characterized by an extremely complex and diverse microarchitecture, largely varying not only from species to species but also among different test plates. It consists of different basic types combined in extremely different ways according to specific functional needs, creating species-specific structural patterns. These patterns can lead to specific mechanical behaviours, which can inspire biomimetic technology and design development. In this framework, the present study aimed to characterize the species-specific pattern of the interambulacral plate and the main microstructural features regarding its geometrical variability and mechanical responses. The results achieved quantitatively highlighted the differences between the analysed stereom types providing new insights regarding their topological configuration and isotropic and anisotropic behaviour. Interestingly, data also revealed that the galleried stereom present at the tubercle is significantly different from the one located at the suture. These analyses and findings are encouraging and provide a starting point for future research to unravel the wide range of mechanical strategies evolved in the echinoid skeletal structure.
海胆的骨骼板由一种特殊的轻量级结构组成，称为stereom，它以多孔的三维格子状网格组织。stereom 的特点是具有极其复杂和多样的微观结构，不仅在物种之间，而且在不同的测试板之间也有很大的差异。它由不同的基本类型根据特定的功能需求以极其不同的方式组合而成，形成了具有物种特异性的结构模式。这些模式可以导致特定的机械行为，从而激发仿生技术和设计的发展。在这个框架内，本研究旨在描述间辐骨板的物种特异性模式以及主要的微观结构特征，包括其几何变异性和机械响应。所获得的结果定量地突出了分析的 stereom 类型之间的差异，为它们的拓扑结构和各向同性和各向异性行为提供了新的见解。有趣的是，数据还表明，在结节处存在的有廊 stereom 与在缝合线处存在的有廊 stereom 明显不同。这些分析和发现令人鼓舞，并为未来的研究提供了一个起点，以揭示在海胆骨骼结构中进化出的广泛的机械策略。
