The microarchitecture of fossil pterosaur bones could hold the key to lighter, stronger materials for the next generation of aircraft, new research has found.
Scientists from the University of Manchester used advanced X-ray imaging techniques to examine fossilised bones of the prehistoric flying reptile at the smallest scale, revealing hidden engineering solutions right in the palm of their hands… or fingers to be precise.
Advertisement
They discovered that pterosaur bones contained a complex network of tiny canals, making them both lightweight and incredibly strong – details of its structure that have never been seen before. The researchers say that these ancient adaptations could have the potential to start a ‘palaeo-biomimetics’ revolution – using the biological designs of prehistoric creatures to develop new materials for the 21st century.
‘For centuries, engineers have looked to nature for inspiration – such as how the burrs from plants led to the invention of Velcro,’ said PhD student Nathan Pili. ‘But we rarely look back to extinct species when seeking inspiration for new engineering developments – but we should. We are so excited to find and map these microscopic interlocking structures in pterosaur bones. We hope that one day we can use them to reduce the weight of aircraft materials, thereby reducing fuel consumption and potentially making planes safer.’
Advertisement
The pterosaurs, close relatives of dinosaurs, were the first vertebrates to achieve powered flight. While early species typically had wingspans of about two metres, later pterosaurs evolved into enormous forms with wingspans reaching upwards of ten metres. The size means they had to solve multiple engineering challenges to get their enormous wingspan airborne, not least supporting their long wing membrane predominantly from a single finger.
The team used state-of-the-art x-ray computed tomography to scan the fossil bones at near sub-micrometre resolution, resolving complex structures about 20 times smaller than the width of a human hair. 3D mapping of internal structures permeating the wing bones of pterosaurs has never been achieved at these resolutions.
Advertisement
They found that the unique network of tiny canals and pores within pterosaur bones – once used for nutrient transfer, growth and maintenance – also helped to protect against microfractures by deflecting cracks, serving both biological and mechanical functions.
By replicating these natural designs, engineers could not only create lightweight, strong components, but could also incorporate sensors and self-healing materials, opening up new possibilities for more complex and efficient aircraft designs. The team suggested that advancements in metal 3D printing could turn these ideas into reality.
‘This is an incredible field of research, especially when working at the microscopic scale,’ Pili said.’ Of all the species that have ever lived, most are extinct, though many died out due to rapid environmental changes rather than “poor design”. These findings are pushing our team to generate even higher-resolution scans of additional extinct species. Who knows what hidden solutions we might find?’
Advertisement
‘There is more than four billion years of experimental design that were a function of Darwinian natural selection,’ said Phil Manning, Professor of natural history at the University of Manchester and director of science at the Natural History Museum Abu Dhab. ‘These natural solutions are beautifully reflected by the same iterative processes used by engineers to refine materials. It is highly likely that among the billions of permutations of life on Earth, unique engineering solutions have evolved but were lost to the sands of time. We hope to unlock the potential of ancient natural solutions to create new materials but also help build a more sustainable future. It is wonderful that life in the Jurassic might make flying in the 21st century more efficient and safer.’
With the aerospace industry constantly striving for stronger, lighter and more efficient materials, nature’s ancient flyers may hold the key to the future of flight. By looking back hundreds of millions of years, scientists and engineers may well be paving the way for the next generation of aviation technology.
Advertisement
The research has been published in Scientific Reports.