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Geometric confinement governs the rupture strength of H-bond assemblies at a critical length scale

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 February 2011

Sinan Keten  and
Markus J. Buehler
Sinan Keten
Affiliation:
keten@mit.edu, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Room 1-337, Cambridge, MA, 01239, United States
Markus J. Buehler
Affiliation:
mbuehler@mit.edu, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 77 Massachusetts Avenue,, Cambridge, MA, 02139, United States
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Abstract

Using theoretical considerations and MD simulation techniques, we show that the rupture strength of H-bond assemblies is governed by geometric confinement effects, suggesting that clusters of at most 3-4 H-bonds break concurrently, even under uniform shear loading of a much larger number of H-bonds. This universally valid result leads to an intrinsic strength limitation that suggests that shorter strands with less H-bonds achieve the highest shear strength. Our finding explains how the intrinsic strength limitation of H-bonds is overcome by the formation of a nanocomposite structure of H-bond clusters, thereby enabling the formation larger, much stronger beta-sheet structures. Our results explain recent experimental proteomics data, suggesting a correlation between the shear strength and the prevalence of beta-strand lengths in biology.

Keywords

fracturebiologicalstrength
Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 1061: Symposium MM – Biomolecular and Biologically Inspired Interfaces and Assemblies , 2007 , 1061-MM08-02
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2008

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