Static and dynamic mechanical properties of cattle horns

As the main weapon of defense and attack, the horns of bovid animals have a remarkable ability to bear static or dynamic loads. In this study, we experimentally investigated the mechanical properties of cattle horns. Firstly, the load-bearing capacity of a whole horn was measured by quasi-static compression tests. The results show that a single horn can withstand a force as high as 7.6 kN, and such a high strength can prevent the horn from failure during fighting. Secondly, quasi-static compression tests with a low strain rate were conducted on cattle horn piece samples using a universal test machine, and dynamic compression tests with a high strain rate were performed using the split Hopkinson pressure bar technique. Both static and dynamic tests showed that the compressive moduli and the yield strengths of horn pieces decrease from the distal end to the proximal end of the horn. In addition, the mechanical properties of the horn exhibit a distinct dependence on the strain rate of the applied load. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.