The sea turtles have to dive in deep water and survive the immense pressure force on the shell. It is assumed that the sea turtles have stronger shells than the aquatic or semi-aquatic ones. Yet, the scientists and researchers have reached a conclusion depending on the observation. Which Turtle Has The Hardest Shell?ĭetermining the exact hardness of a turtle species is nearly impossible. So, fracturing or scratching the surface is easier on these scutes. Primarily, we assume that force to be around 1000 pounds.īut yes, if the shell is underdeveloped or the turtle is suffering from malnutrition, damages will be done with lesser force.Īgain, the sea turtles and the softshell turtles have soft shells. Hence, we can conclude that breaking a turtle’s shell requires enormous pressure. It is, of course, powerful and far more than what a turtle shell withstands. The biting force of an alligator and crocodile is respectively 2125 to 2980 pounds and 3700 pounds. In the wild, crocodiles or alligator bites have the force to break a turtle’s carapace.
The simple ramming or a thud will not damage the scutes and might scratch the surface at best.Ī turtle gets its shell damaged when it faces an accident or falls from a height. However, it is not easy to break a turtle’s shell. So, you have to overcome this pressure to break a turtle’s shell.Īccording to a study, a minimum of 36.4 MPa m^0.5 fracture toughness is required to cut through the turtle scute surface. The sources claim that empty box turtle shells resist forcing up to 200 times their weight. How Much Force Does It Take To Break A Turtle Shell? In short, turtle shells are harder and can endure more pressure than many other naturally occurring materials. So, yes, turtle shells are stronger than aluminum and many more metals. If you look at the metal fracture toughness, the aluminum has a rating of 22 MPa m^0.5. Fracture toughness is the force essential to scratch the turtle scute surface.ĭo you think fracture toughness of 36.4 MPa m^0.5 is not enough? Well, you are absolutely wrong. What if your turtle’s shell already contains a scratch? The studies support that a turtle shell has an average fracture toughness of 36.4 MPa m^0.5. It is known as maximum flexural strength. If you apply a bending force on a turtle shell, the strength increases to 165.1 MPa. Hence, the elongation or size reduction is not more than a few microns. Remember, turtle shells are hard and brittle. For turtles, the approximate compressive strength is about 100 MPa. On the contrary, compressive strength indicates the maximum load any substance withstands. Compared to the tensile strength of glass and wood, respectively 52 MPa and 40 MPa, the chart numbers are impressive. Here is achieved data, Interior Layerįor many species, this tensile strength ranges between 19 MPa to 52 MPa. So, the scientists have divided the carapace into 3 layers to determine the approximate strength. For those who do not know, tensile strength refers to the maximum load any material can withstand without fracturing while being stretched. Not all of the data is necessary right now.įirst, let’s talk about the tensile strength of a turtle shell. Researchers have conducted all types of hardness experiments on a turtle shell. In this section, I am simplifying the data for you. Different groups of scientists have already researched the hardness and toughness of a turtle shell. You can definitely have an approximate answer. Also, the withstand pressure varies from species to species as the physique of the turtle changes.īut yes. It is because different parts of the carapace can endure different strengths. Well, you can not assume the exact hardness of a turtle shell. How does a turtle shell withstand this much pressure? Is the shield bullet-proof or unbreakable? The following article includes all the answers to the hardness and toughness of a turtle shell. According to the studies, a turtle endures a fracture toughness of 36.4 MPa m^0.5 and maximum flexural strength of 165.1 MPa. Sources claim that turtle shells can withstand forces 200 times their own weight, which can be thousand pounds of pressure. Have you ever looked at the turtle shell and thought, “Why do turtles have shells?” or “How hard is a turtle shell?” According to a report, the last 210 years of evolution have brought about bewildering changes in the turtle’s physical features. The first thing that makes turtles unique is their unique shell.
0 kommentar(er)
