Pterosaur Bones May Inspire Lighter, Stronger Aircraft Materials

A new analysis of pterosaur bones could lead to lighter and stronger materials for aircraft

You might think that if a species went extinct tens of millions of years ago, its design would be too primitive to have any application in modern technology. However, new research on pterosaur bones suggests that their microstructure could inspire materials for lighter and stronger aircraft.

The Evolution of Pterosaurs

Pterosaurs were flying reptiles that lived on Earth between 228 and 66 million years ago. Some species had wingspans of up to 11 meters, making them the largest flying animals of all time. Keeping their body weight low was essential for these large reptiles to take flight.

Thus, pterosaurs had hollow, lightweight wing bones, similar to those of birds. However, these bones also needed to be strong enough to support the weight of their tough, leathery wing membranes. This is where the new study comes in.

Led by PhD student Nathan Pili, a team of scientists at the University of Manchester used X-ray computed tomography to 3D scan fossilized pterosaur wing bones with near sub-micrometer resolution.

The Discovery of Tiny Canals in Bone Structure

The analysis revealed that the “solid” sections of the hollow bones were permeated with tiny canals, each about one-twentieth the width of a human hair. These structures likely helped transfer nutrients throughout the bone tissue and facilitated bone growth.

It was also found that these canals helped prevent cracks from spreading through the bones. If a microfracture formed on the surface, it would not extend beyond the first canal, which would act as a barrier. The small crack would then heal relatively quickly.

Potential Aerospace Applications for Pterosaur Bone Structure

Modeling indicated that if such an internal microstructure were applied to aerospace materials (like 3D-printed metals), it could result in next-generation aircraft components that combine lightness and high strength.

Of all the species that have ever existed, most are extinct, though many died out due to rapid environmental changes rather than ‘poor design,'” says Pili. “These findings are pushing us to scan other extinct species at even higher resolutions. Who knows what hidden solutions we might find.

Read the original article on: New Atlas

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