Princeton Engineers Develop Bone-Inspired Concrete 5.6 Times Tougher

The new cement-based material resists cracking and sudden failure through bio-inspired tubular architecture.

Researchers at Princeton University have created a cement-based material that is 5.6 times more damage-resistant than traditional concrete.
The design is inspired by the structure of human cortical bone, which deflects cracks and prevents abrupt failure.
The new material incorporates cylindrical and elliptical tubes within the cement paste to enhance resistance to crack propagation.
Unlike conventional methods that use additives, this approach relies on geometric design to improve toughness.
Advanced fabrication methods like robotics and additive manufacturing are being explored to scale up the material for civil infrastructure.