To investigate the characteristics of compression, buffering and energy dissipation in beetle elytron plates (BEPs), compression experiments were performed on BEPs and honeycomb plates (HPs) with the same wall thickness in different core structures and using different molding methods. The results are as follows: 1) The compressive strength and energy dissipation capacity in the BEP are 2.44 and 5.0 times those in the HP, respectively, when the plates are prepared using the full integrated method (FIM). 2) The buckling stress is directly proportional to the square of the wall thickness (t). Thus, for core structures with equal wall thicknesses, although the core volume of the BEP is 42 percent greater than that of the HP, the mechanical properties of the BEP are several times higher than those of the HP. 3) It is also proven that even when the single integrated method (SIM) is used to prepare BEPs, the properties discussed above remain superior to those of HPs by a factor of several; this finding lays the foundation for accelerating the commercialization of BEPs based on modern manufacturing processes.

For the development of lightweight biomimetic materials, the compressive properties of the beetle elytron plate (BEP, a type of biomimetic sandwich plate inspired from beetle elytra) and the underlying mechanism thereof were investigated. With the following results: (1) The shared mechanism of trabeculae was revealed by using structural analysis. It is further predicted that a BEP with hollow trabeculae should possess enhanced compressive properties. (2) When the trabecular number (N) in a hexagonal unit of the honeycomb is less than three, the compressive strength of the BEP is rapidly increased with the increment of N. When N is over four, the deformation capacity is significantly improved because of the arising of S-type buckling deformation in the core structure of the BEP. Furthermore, the definition of the BEP is proposed combined with the biological structure of the beetle elytra. (3) When N=6 and the external diameter of trabeculae is equal to the length of honeycomb walls, the synergistic mechanism between the trabeculae and the honeycomb walls in BEPs is fully exerted. Namely, the trabecula restricts the deformation of the honeycomb walls; in turn, the honeycomb walls provide lateral support for the trabecula. This mechanism leads the core in the BEP to generate an S-type global buckling deformation producing the best compressive properties. The results will greatly impact the biomimetic field of beetle elytra and many industries in which honeycomb structure also serves as a key component.