Micromechanical modeling of the hierarchical elytral architecture of the diabolical ironclad beetle for predicting its exceptional compressive behavior

This work presents a micromechanical modeling framework for predicting the compressive response of the hierarchical elytral architecture of the diabolical ironclad beetle (Phloeodes diabolicus). The proposed approach integrates inclusion-based theories (Eshelby, Mori–Tanaka, and differential schemes) with multiscale structural modeling and finite element analysis. Morphological parameters extracted from SEM images are incorporated into a high-fidelity computational model. Results demonstrate that mesoscale structural mechanisms significantly enhance stiffness and improve predictive accuracy compared to microscale-only models. This is a preprint submitted for journal publication and has not yet been peer-reviewed.