Investigation of Mechanical and Physical Properties of Big Sheep Horn as an Alternative Biomaterial for Structural Applications

This paper investigates the physical and mechanical properties of bighorns of Deccani breed sheep native from Karnataka, India. The exhaustive work comprises two cases. First, rehydrated (wet) and ambient (dry) conditions, and second, the horn coupons were selected for longitudinal and lateral (transverse) directions. More than seventy-two samples were subjected to a test for physical and mechanical property extraction. Further, twenty-four samples were subjected to physical property testing, which included density and moisture absorption tests. At the same time, mechanical testing included analysis of the stress state dependence with the horn keratin tested under tension, compression, and flexural loading. The mechanical properties include the elastic modulus, yield strength, ultimate strength, failure strain, compressive strength, flexural strength, flexural modulus, and hardness. The results showed anisotropy and depended highly on the presence of water content more than coupon orientation. Wet conditioned specimens had a significant loss in mechanical properties compared with dry specimens. The observed outcomes were shown at par with results for yield strength of 53.5 ± 6.5 MPa (which is better than its peers) and a maximum compressive stress of 557.7 ± 5 MPa (highest among peers). Young’s modulus 6.5 ± 0.5 GPa and a density equivalent to a biopolymer of 1.2 g/cc are expected to be the lightest among its peers; flexural strength 168.75 MPa, with lowest failure strain percentage of 6.5 ± 0.5 and Rockwell hardness value of 60 HRB, seem best in the class of this category. Simulation study identified a suitable application area based on impact and fatigue analysis. Overall, the exhaustive experimental work provided many opportunities to use this new material in various diversified applications in the future.


Introduction
Horns are the Bovidae family's defensive weapons (ex. sheep, cattle, goat, buffalo, and antelope) [1,2]. In ancient history, the evolution of horn shape, size, and structure are unique for each category [3]. However, the core material composition remains common among all, i.e., keratin [4,5]. Keratin-based mineralized tissues are the lightest available material as compared to mineralized segments of bones and teeth in animals [6][7][8]. Mechanical properties such as Young's modulus, yield strength, and impact resistance are predominant The two big horns of 1.5 year-old Deccani breed sheep (Karnataka sheep; Ovis canadensis) were extracted within 24 h after slaughter from a local slaughterhouse (used for dietary reasons; Hubbali Taluq, Dharwad District, Karnataka, India), as shown in Figure 1 (left). The horns were approximately 70 cm in longitudinal length and 18 cm in diameter at the base; the horn sheath's thickness was irregular, as depicted in Figure 1 (right view) where the red rectangle represents the specimen in the longitudinal direction and the blue rectangle indicates the specimen in the transverse direction. The horns were cold-stored in a controlled environment before extraction of specimens from the horn sheath. The pattern of slicing for extracting the maximum number of specimens is shown in Figure 2a. The ASTM standard was used for slicing the Deccani horn sheath, as shown in Figure 2b.
in a controlled environment before extraction of specimens from the horn sheath. The pattern of slicing for extracting the maximum number of specimens is shown in Figure 2a. The ASTM standard was used for slicing the Deccani horn sheath, as shown in Figure 2b.   in a controlled environment before extraction of specimens from the horn sheath. The pattern of slicing for extracting the maximum number of specimens is shown in Figure 2a.
The ASTM standard was used for slicing the Deccani horn sheath, as shown in Figure 2b.

Methodology
A roadmap for the entire research work is framed in the form of methodology. The details with the process map are shown in Figure 3. The work initiated with the extraction of a typical type of "Deccani" breed from a slaughterhouse. Each of these horns is sliced with unique optimal conditions to extract the maximum number of coupons. The speci-

Methodology
A roadmap for the entire research work is framed in the form of methodology. The details with the process map are shown in Figure 3. The work initiated with the extraction of a typical type of "Deccani" breed from a slaughterhouse. Each of these horns is sliced with unique optimal conditions to extract the maximum number of coupons. The specimens were extracted according to the ASTM standard and filed to achieve the exact shape and size to match the dimensions depicted in Figure 2b. (b)

Methodology
A roadmap for the entire research work is framed in the form of methodology. The details with the process map are shown in Figure 3. The work initiated with the extraction of a typical type of "Deccani" breed from a slaughterhouse. Each of these horns is sliced with unique optimal conditions to extract the maximum number of coupons. The specimens were extracted according to the ASTM standard and filed to achieve the exact shape and size to match the dimensions depicted in Figure 2b.

Experimental Tests
The complete experimental work comprised physical and mechanical studies. These studies are explained in the following sections.

Density Test
The specimen density test was performed by applying Archimedes principle using distilled water according to ASTM D792 [24]. The actual density of each sample was measured by using a cantilever setup and weighing machine.
Density is determined by using the formula where ρ Specimen = Actual density of specimen (g/cc); W a = Weight of a specimen in the air (g); W w = Weight of a specimen in water (g).

Water Absorption Test
Water absorption tests were carried out as per ASTM D5229 [25] with six coupons of specification 6 mm × 6 mm × 6 mm for four categories. Coupons were subjected to sunlight for 24 h before measuring the observations. The coupons were immersed in distilled water and weighted every 24 h of the cycle. Freshwater was utilized after daily measurement. After 11 days, the coupons were taken out of the container and dried with a cloth. The samples were then placed in a preheated oven at 110 • C for one day to dehydrate completely. During dehydration, each sample was weighed every 12 h of time-lapse.

Mechanical Testing
All of the specimens were extracted from the horn with a diamond saw cutting blade and sanded with 240 grit sandpaper. For each set of specimens, two samples were developed by loading in the longitudinal and transverse directions, as shown in Figure 2a.
The test was carried out for each sample in ambient (dry) and fully rehydrated condition (wet) for each loading direction.

Tensile Test
For a total of 20 samples, 10 were longitudinally oriented and 10 transversely oriented. Among the 10, in particular, 5 were "wet" condition and the other 5 were "dry" condition [10]. The tensile test was performed using a micro universal testing machine equipped with 10 kN load cells. The miniaturized specimens were developed according to ASTM D-3039 [26]. Specimens of dimension 35 mm × 5 mm × 2 mm (length × width × thickness) were sliced from horn sheath with a diamond saw blade and sanded with 240 grit sandpaper, as shown in Figure 4. The two ends of each sample were wrapped with 100 grit sandpaper to ensure that slippage did not occur. A uniaxial load was scoped on one end of the gripper. The gauge length of 25 mm and a crosshead speed of 2 mm/min were used.

Compression Test
Twenty cubical specimens with dimensions 5 mm × 5 mm × 5 mm were prepared for a compression test as shown in Figure 4, ten each in the longitudinal direction and the transverse direction. Five samples in the rehydrated (wet) condition and 5 in the dry condition were subjected for a test, the same accepted for the transverse specimens. The compression test was executed on the same Universal Testing Machine (UTM) where we performed the tensile test but according to ASTM: E09 [27].

Compression Test
Twenty cubical specimens with dimensions 5 mm × 5 mm × 5 mm were prepared for a compression test as shown in Figure 4, ten each in the longitudinal direction and the transverse direction. Five samples in the rehydrated (wet) condition and 5 in the dry condition were subjected for a test, the same accepted for the transverse specimens. The compression test was executed on the same Universal Testing Machine (UTM) where we performed the tensile test but according to ASTM: E09 [27].

Flexural Test
The flexural strength test provides the bending strength for a given specimen. The coupons were cut into rectangular prisms of dimensions 30 mm × 8 mm × 3 mm (length × width × thickness), as shown in Figure 5, with a diamond saw and sanded with 240 grit sandpaper. Micro Universal Testing Machine (M-UTM) manufactured by Tinius Olsen, India, was used to perform the coupon test for 10-tonne capacity following ASTM D790-07 [28]. for developing the coupons. Twenty coupons were etched to prepare two sets of samples, ten in longitudinal and ten in transverse direction. Five tests were made in the wet condition out of the ten longitudinal specimens, and the other coupons were used for the dry condition.

Hardness Test
The hardness test was conducted with a Rockwell series tester in the material testing laboratory of KLE Technological University. ASTM D785 [29] was followed for preparing and subjecting the sample to an average of six samples per category.

Impact Test
As per ASTM standard D256 [30], applied to plastic materials, perhaps is lower than metal-based conditions. The details about dimensions are highlighted in Figure 2b. As per the ASTM standard, method A was used while testing the specimen for the Izod case. The energy of impact can be expressed by:

Density Test
The density of the Bighorn sheep horn was measured using Archimedes principle and shown in Table 1. The weight of the specimen in air and water were determined using Equation (1) (the equation for the density in the experimental section).

Hardness Test
The hardness test was conducted with a Rockwell series tester in the material testing laboratory of KLE Technological University. ASTM D785 [29] was followed for preparing and subjecting the sample to an average of six samples per category.

Impact Test
As per ASTM standard D256 [30], applied to plastic materials, perhaps is lower than metal-based conditions. The details about dimensions are highlighted in Figure 2b. As per the ASTM standard, method A was used while testing the specimen for the Izod case. The energy of impact can be expressed by: Impact strength = Energy Absorbed (J) cross section of specimen at the Notch(m 2 ) (2) The density of the Bighorn sheep horn was measured using Archimedes principle and shown in Table 1. The weight of the specimen in air and water were determined using Equation (1) (the equation for the density in the experimental section).

Water Absorption Test
Water absorption is a critical performance test to measure the degradation or deterioration in the sample. Table 1 shows that, on average, 20.87 is the percentage of water absorption. The goat's new horns showed a percentage of water absorption in the range 10-12% [31][32][33][34].
However, fully hydrated big sheep horn showed 27% absorption, 38% for pronghorn, and domestic horn 21% [35]. In comparison to all the cases, the water absorption percentage is the lowest among all categories. The tests were reported for 11 days. The results are shown in Figure 5.

Tensile Strength Test
A tensile strength test was conducted for four cases; the observed details are shown in Figure 6a. The tensile yield strength observed for the longitudinal dry condition is 60 MPa, which is greater than high-density poly ethylene, ABS, polypropylene, and similar poly-methyl-methacrylate (PMMA), and higher than other fiber-reinforced polymer composites [36]. Young's modulus of stress in the longitudinal direction of the dry specimen (SLD) is lower than nettle [37], flax [38], ramie [39], and pineapple [40], and almost equivalent to banana [41] and sisal fibre [42]. However, it is higher than cotton [43], kenaf [44], root [45], elephant grass [46]. The comparative study of various breeds of sheep horn around the world is discussed in Section 5. The details of the nomenclature of specimens used for mechanical property testing are given in Table 2.

Water Absorption Test
Water absorption is a critical performance test to measure the degradation or deterioration in the sample. Table 1 shows that, on average, 20.87 is the percentage of water absorption. The goat's new horns showed a percentage of water absorption in the range 10-12% [31][32][33][34].
However, fully hydrated big sheep horn showed 27% absorption, 38% for pronghorn, and domestic horn 21% [35]. In comparison to all the cases, the water absorption percentage is the lowest among all categories. The tests were reported for 11 days. The results are shown in Figure 5.

Tensile Strength Test
A tensile strength test was conducted for four cases; the observed details are shown in Figure 6a. The tensile yield strength observed for the longitudinal dry condition is 60 MPa, which is greater than high-density poly ethylene, ABS, polypropylene, and similar poly-methyl-methacrylate (PMMA), and higher than other fiber-reinforced polymer composites [36]. Young's modulus of stress in the longitudinal direction of the dry specimen (SLD) is lower than nettle [37], flax [38], ramie [39], and pineapple [40], and almost equivalent to banana [41] and sisal fibre [42]. However, it is higher than cotton [43], kenaf [44], root [45], elephant grass [46]. The comparative study of various breeds of sheep horn around the world is discussed in Section 5. The details of the nomenclature of specimens used for mechanical property testing are given in Table 2.   Figure 6b represents the closure view of the stress-strain diagram. Figure 7a represents the comparison of stress-strain diagram for the dry condition for both STD and SLD;   Figure 7a represents the comparison of stress-strain diagram for the dry condition for both STD and SLD; it was observed that SLD has greater plastic deformation as compared to STD. Figure 7a represents a comparison of dry conditions alone, which shows that the yield strength and ultimate strength of the longitudinal direction is 19.2% and 26.4% more than the transverse direction. Yield and ultimate strength for STD, however, are nearly the same. From Figure 7a, it is seen that once the ultimate stress is reached in SLD and STD, the failure stress is reached faster in SLD as compared to STD. Figure 7b represents the comparison of the stress-strain diagram for the wet condition for both STW and SLW. From Figure 7b, it is seen that failure strain and toughness of SLW is maximum among all other peers. It is observed that the yield strength and ultimate strength of the longitudinal direction is 80% more than the transverse direction. In addition, the percentage of failure strain of SLW is twice that of STW. Figure 7b indicates that in the wet condition, SLW has greater strength and load-carrying capacity as compared to STW. From Figure 7a,b, it is observed that the longitudinal direction possessed greater strength in the dry condition, but more ductility in the wet condition as compared to the transverse direction. Overall, Young's modulus for SLD is 6.5 ± 0.5 GPa, whereas it is 1.7 ± 0.5 for big sheep horn, 1.8 ± 0.2 for pronghorn, and 2.1 ± 0.6 for domestic horn [47]. The failure strain rate is 6.5% for SLD, whereas it is 14.5% is for mountain goats and 5.7% for domestic sheep, as recorded for peer cases [48,49]. However, failure strain for SLW and STW is 70 ± 0.5%, and 35 ± 0.1%, respectively, which is greater than that recorded for big sheep horn of the USA and China [50]. Comparative studies for all four cases of Deccani sheep horns are tabulated in Table 3. it was observed that SLD has greater plastic deformation as compared to STD. Figure 7a represents a comparison of dry conditions alone, which shows that the yield strength and ultimate strength of the longitudinal direction is 19.2% and 26.4% more than the transverse direction. Yield and ultimate strength for STD, however, are nearly the same. From Figure 7a, it is seen that once the ultimate stress is reached in SLD and STD, the failure stress is reached faster in SLD as compared to STD. Figure 7b represents the comparison of the stress-strain diagram for the wet condition for both STW and SLW. From Figure 7b, it is seen that failure strain and toughness of SLW is maximum among all other peers. It is observed that the yield strength and ultimate strength of the longitudinal direction is 80% more than the transverse direction. In addition, the percentage of failure strain of SLW is twice that of STW. Figure 7b indicates that in the wet condition, SLW has greater strength and load-carrying capacity as compared to STW. From Figure 7a,b, it is observed that the longitudinal direction possessed greater strength in the dry condition, but more ductility in the wet condition as compared to the transverse direction. Overall, Young's modulus for SLD is 6.5 ± 0.5 GPa, whereas it is 1.7 ± 0.5 for big sheep horn, 1.8 ± 0.2 for pronghorn, and 2.1 ± 0.6 for domestic horn [47]. The failure strain rate is 6.5% for SLD, whereas it is 14.5% is for mountain goats and 5.7% for domestic sheep, as recorded for peer cases [48,49]. However, failure strain for SLW and STW is 70 ± 0.5%, and 35 ± 0.1%, respectively, which is greater than that recorded for big sheep horn of the USA and China [50]. Comparative studies for all four cases of Deccani sheep horns are tabulated in Table  3. However, to verify the significance of the direction (longitudinal and transverse) and condition (dry and wet) of the specimen on the mechanical properties, a two-way ANOVA analysis was implemented on the results reported in Table 3 by using Statistics Kingdom two-way ANOVA calculator. During two-way ANOVA, the effect of direction of the specimen, the effect of the condition of the specimen, and the effect of interaction between direction and condition of the specimen on yield stress, Young's modulus, ultimate strength, and failure strain were examined separately. In Tables 4 and 5, DF indicates the degree of freedom, SS shows the sum of squares, and MS indicates mean square. Moreover, F-value and p-value are important parameters to decide whether direction and condition have significant mechanical properties; based on the value of F and p we accept or However, to verify the significance of the direction (longitudinal and transverse) and condition (dry and wet) of the specimen on the mechanical properties, a two-way ANOVA analysis was implemented on the results reported in Table 3 by using Statistics Kingdom two-way ANOVA calculator. During two-way ANOVA, the effect of direction of the specimen, the effect of the condition of the specimen, and the effect of interaction between direction and condition of the specimen on yield stress, Young's modulus, ultimate strength, and failure strain were examined separately. In Tables 4 and 5, DF indicates the degree of freedom, SS shows the sum of squares, and MS indicates mean square. Moreover, F-value and p-value are important parameters to decide whether direction and condition have significant mechanical properties; based on the value of F and p we accept or reject the null hypothesis. If F-value, which is tabulated in Tables 4 and 5, is greater than F-value determined by using F-table [51,52], then the null hypothesis is rejected. Second, the p-value is used to decide the validity of the null hypothesis. If the p-value is less than the level of significance, i.e., p < 0.05, it can be said that factors of condition and direction have a significant effect on the mechanical property. For instance, here we will study the effect of direction on yield strength, after executing two-way ANOVA, the degree of freedom in the numerator (direction) is "1" as shown in Table 4, whereas the degree of freedom in the denominator was found to be 16 by using an F-table critical value of F determined as 4.49. The F-value in Table 4, "149.9076" is greater than the critical value (=4.48), hence it leads to the rejection of the null hypothesis. After implementing the same procedure on condition as well as interaction, the significance of the condition and interaction on the mechanical properties was reported. From Tables 4 and 5, it is concluded that the significance of the condition, direction, and interaction between them do exist on the mechanical properties of the Deccani sheep horn.  Table 6 shows the flexural properties of Deccani sheep horn. The wet sample showed almost one-third of the result with a dry sample; eventually, the brittle transitioned to ductile at the fracture period. Figures 8 and 9 show the details for wet and dry conditions, and the longitudinal and transverse conditions of coupons.       The flexural strength calculation is given by Equation (3): Calculation: Steps to calculate bending strength are given below.

Compression Test
Compression tests for each direction (longitudinal and transverse) for dry and wet conditions were done with more than six samples for each condition. Nomenclature for coupons for compressive testing is shown in  Figure 10b represents a closure image of the compression stress-strain curve; it is observed that yield strength for CSLD was 7.32% higher than CSLD. Figure 11 represents the stressstrain curve for dry condition where it is observed that, from strain of 0.1% to 0.4%, CSLD and CSTD follow the same trend, but after 0.4% strain, CSTD exhibited more plastic deformation as compared to CSLD. Figure 12 represents the compressive stress-strain curve for wet condition; it is observed that ultimate stress for CSLW is the maximum, but strain for CSTW is the maximum among all of its peers. The observed strength may be due to the bonding of keratin elements at molecular level with its adjacent peer elements. This may have led to nearly a similar sort of results for all the cases. Due to the hydration process, it slightly reduced with results, but the dry condition values are comparable. Table 9 summarizes all distinguished and comparative case studies.

Hardness Test
A microhardness test was carried out for four cases of big sheep horns. The observed values are depicted in Table 10. For SLD Rockwell hardness of 60, HRB is observed in comparison to 330 HV [48]. As the hardness testing machines are different, the values may not be comparable, but the results overall were better for dry conditions than for wet conditions.

Experimental Comparative Study
A comparative study for any research justifies the material behavior for a mechanical and property, which is based on earlier literature noted in Figure 13. An experimental comparative study was accomplished by taking our experimental results for all four conditions (SLD, STD, SLW, STW) and comparing available results for a different breed of sheep horn at the same conditions (SLD, STD, SLW, STW), implemented by using descriptive bar charts.  Figure 13b shows the comparison of mechanical properties of a different breed of sheep horn at the transverse dry condition. We observed that tensile Young's modulus [48,49], tensile yield strength [35,47,48], and failure strain [49,50] of Deccani breed sheep horn are the highest as compared with other breed big sheep horns. Furthermore, flexural strength and flexural modulus of Deccani breed sheep horn are highest in comparison with the bighorn sheep from USA [10], whereas yield compressive strength of USA big sheep horn [35] is larger, compared to other peers. Figure 13c shows the comparison of mechanical properties of a different breed of sheep horn at longitudinal wet conditions. It is seen that big sheep horn from USA [35] has the highest tensile and compressive strength as compared with other breed sheep horns. Young's modulus and failure strain of Deccani breed sheep horn are highest as compared with the bighorn sheep from China and USA [48,49]. In addition, the flexural properties of the Deccani sheep horn are larger in comparison with the big sheep horn from USA [10]. Figure 13d shows the comparison of mechanical properties of a different breed of sheep horn at transverse wet conditions. We observe that the tensile yield strength of big sheep horns of China [48] is highest in comparison with other breed sheep horns. In addition, the fracture strain of big sheep horn USA [49] is larger, as compared with other peers. The flexural strength of the Deccani breed sheep horn, however, is more than the USA big sheep horn [10].

Simulation Study
Today, without simulation study, any research is incomplete and unjustified. The real-time validation of experimental work or reduction of number of experiments is feasible via simulation study [55][56][57][58]. As the virtual analysis leads to cost, material, and design optimization, further product realization and mass production becomes more compatible. A simulation study identifies potential application areas for big sheep horns with mechanical strength and stiffness properties for various analyses [59]. The details are discussed in the following sections. In Figure 13a, where we compare mechanical properties of a different breed of sheep horn at longitudinal dry condition, we observe that big sheep horn from USA [35] has the highest tensile and compressive strength as compared with other breed sheep horn. Whereas, Young's modulus, flexural modulus, and flexural strength of Deccani breed sheep are highest as compared with other bighorn sheep [10,35,47,48], but the failure strength of bighorn sheep from China [48] is highest among all breeds. Figure 13b shows the comparison of mechanical properties of a different breed of sheep horn at the transverse dry condition. We observed that tensile Young's modulus [48,49], tensile yield strength [35,47,48], and failure strain [49,50] of Deccani breed sheep horn are the highest as compared with other breed big sheep horns. Furthermore, flexural strength and flexural modulus of Deccani breed sheep horn are highest in comparison with the bighorn sheep from USA [10], whereas yield compressive strength of USA big sheep horn [35] is larger, compared to other peers. Figure 13c shows the comparison of mechanical properties of a different breed of sheep horn at longitudinal wet conditions. It is seen that big sheep horn from USA [35] has the highest tensile and compressive strength as compared with other breed sheep horns. Young's modulus and failure strain of Deccani breed sheep horn are highest as compared with the bighorn sheep from China and USA [48,49]. In addition, the flexural properties of the Deccani sheep horn are larger in comparison with the big sheep horn from USA [10]. Figure 13d shows the comparison of mechanical properties of a different breed of sheep horn at transverse wet conditions. We observe that the tensile yield strength of big sheep horns of China [48] is highest in comparison with other breed sheep horns. In addition, the fracture strain of big sheep horn USA [49] is larger, as compared with other peers. The flexural strength of the Deccani breed sheep horn, however, is more than the USA big sheep horn [10].

Simulation Study
Today, without simulation study, any research is incomplete and unjustified. The real-time validation of experimental work or reduction of number of experiments is feasible via simulation study [55][56][57][58]. As the virtual analysis leads to cost, material, and design optimization, further product realization and mass production becomes more compatible. A simulation study identifies potential application areas for big sheep horns with mechanical strength and stiffness properties for various analyses [59]. The details are discussed in the following sections.
6.1. Impact Analysis 6.1.1. Geometry The specimen was subjected to impact load testing for dimensions of 100 mm × 150 mm × 5 mm. Figure 14 depicts the pressure scoped in the highlighted surface area, which is 70 mm in diameter.

Simulation Study
Today, without simulation study, any research is incomplete and unjustified. The real-time validation of experimental work or reduction of number of experiments is feasible via simulation study [55][56][57][58]. As the virtual analysis leads to cost, material, and design optimization, further product realization and mass production becomes more compatible. A simulation study identifies potential application areas for big sheep horns with mechanical strength and stiffness properties for various analyses [59]. The details are discussed in the following sections.

Geometry
The specimen was subjected to impact load testing for dimensions of 100 mm × 150 mm × 5 mm. Figure 14 depicts the pressure scoped in the highlighted surface area, which is 70 mm in diameter.

Contact Generation
The entire coupon was subjected to holding with a fixture in the surrounding region of 70 mm dia. The layers assigned with material properties of big sheep horn are stacked one over the other with "Bonded" contact [60,61]. The analysis carried out for the stiffness method as "Pure Penalty" and the same condition maintained for further iterations [62].

Mesh Generation
The mesh generated with Solid187 was 20-noded and hexa-dominant, with secondorder elements [58][59][60] having 37,046 elements and 46,464 as nodes for the entire model, as shown in Figure 15.

Contact Generation
The entire coupon was subjected to holding with a fixture in the surrounding region of 70 mm dia. The layers assigned with material properties of big sheep horn are stacked one over the other with "Bonded" contact [60,61]. The analysis carried out for the stiffness method as "Pure Penalty" and the same condition maintained for further iterations [62].

Contact Generation
The entire coupon was subjected to holding with a fixture in the surrounding region of 70 mm dia. The layers assigned with material properties of big sheep horn are stacked one over the other with "Bonded" contact [60,61]. The analysis carried out for the stiffness method as "Pure Penalty" and the same condition maintained for further iterations [62].

Mesh Generation
The mesh generated with Solid187 was 20-noded and hexa-dominant, with secondorder elements [58][59][60]     Deformation and von Mises stress are shown in Figures 18 and 19. The results observed are well within the limit of yield strength and permissible limit.

Fatigue Analysis
When subjected to constant or fully reversible continuous load, fatigue analysis is crucial to determine the product material's durability and life span [61][62][63]. The details of load condition and mean stress correction theory are given in Figures 20 and 21. Deformation and von Mises stress are shown in Figures 18 and 19. The results observed are well within the limit of yield strength and permissible limit.

Fatigue Analysis
When subjected to constant or fully reversible continuous load, fatigue analysis is crucial to determine the product material's durability and life span [61][62][63]. The details of load condition and mean stress correction theory are given in Figures 20 and 21. Deformation and von Mises stress are shown in Figures 18 and 19. The results observed are well within the limit of yield strength and permissible limit.

Fatigue Analysis
When subjected to constant or fully reversible continuous load, fatigue analysis is crucial to determine the product material's durability and life span [61][62][63]. The details of load condition and mean stress correction theory are given in Figures 20 and 21.

Fatigue Analysis
When subjected to constant or fully reversible continuous load, fatigue analysis is crucial to determine the product material's durability and life span [61][62][63]. The details of load condition and mean stress correction theory are given in Figures 20 and 21.    Figure 23 illustrates that the model has a damage threshold of more than 1, which is an acceptable limit.    Figure 23 illustrates that the model has a damage threshold of more than 1, which is an acceptable limit.    Figure 23 illustrates that the model has a damage threshold of more than 1, which is an acceptable limit.  Figure 23 illustrates that the model has a damage threshold of more than 1, which is an acceptable limit. defines that the model has more than two as a factor of safety, which is above the threshold limit of 1.1 to 1.5. It has scope for optimization. FOS of the specimen is more than 2. This is quite obvious for the infinite cycle.    Figure 24 defines that the model has more than two as a factor of safety, which is above the threshold limit of 1.1 to 1.5. It has scope for optimization. FOS of the specimen is more than 2. This is quite obvious for the infinite cycle.  Figure 24 defines that the model has more than two as a factor of safety, which is above the threshold limit of 1.1 to 1.5. It has scope for optimization. FOS of the specimen is more than 2. This is quite obvious for the infinite cycle.    Figure 24 defines that the model has more than two as a factor of safety, which is above the threshold limit of 1.1 to 1.5. It has scope for optimization. FOS of the specimen is more than 2. This is quite obvious for the infinite cycle.

Comparison of Experimental and Simulation Studies
The framework with finite element analysis and experimental study comparison is carried out using the methods described in previous work [64][65][66][67][68][69] and summarized in Figure 26.

Comparison of Experimental and Simulation Studies
The framework with finite element analysis and experimental study comparison is carried out using the methods described in previous work [64][65][66][67][68][69] and summarized in Figure 26.

Applications
The exhaustive simulation study revealed the horn material is quite lucrative for application and engagement into any product as an outer layer (as it is a waste material). The novel material is tailor-made for four-wheeler vehicle bonnet, hood, skid plates, bumper, and consumer products such as mobile covers and packaging materials [70][71][72][73].

Conclusions
This exhaustive experimental work culminates in the conclusion that Karnataka's local breed from Haveri, India, is well suited to be considered for impact-resistant applications. Further, detailed understanding provides the following conclusions: • The density of big sheep horn keratin is 1.2 g/cc, which is the lowest among its peer breeds, and it can replace many thermo-set and thermoplastic polymers.
• Moisture absorption of SLD is 20.87%. This is by far the best among big sheep horns from other countries. For domestic sheep, it is 21%, pronghorn 38%, and mountain goat 15%. The tensile yield strength of SLD is 60 MPa, and Young's modulus is 6.5 ±

Applications
The exhaustive simulation study revealed the horn material is quite lucrative for application and engagement into any product as an outer layer (as it is a waste material). The novel material is tailor-made for four-wheeler vehicle bonnet, hood, skid plates, bumper, and consumer products such as mobile covers and packaging materials [70][71][72][73].

Conclusions
This exhaustive experimental work culminates in the conclusion that Karnataka's local breed from Haveri, India, is well suited to be considered for impact-resistant applications. Further, detailed understanding provides the following conclusions:

•
The density of big sheep horn keratin is 1.2 g/cc, which is the lowest among its peer breeds, and it can replace many thermo-set and thermoplastic polymers.

•
Moisture absorption of SLD is 20.87%. This is by far the best among big sheep horns from other countries. For domestic sheep, it is 21%, pronghorn 38%, and mountain goat 15%. The tensile yield strength of SLD is 60 MPa, and Young's modulus is 6.5 ± 0.5 GPa. The values are far more lucrative than many thermoplastics and fiber-reinforced polymer composites.

•
The failure strain rate is 6.5 ± 0.5%, which is at par with the peer competitor species. • Flexural strength is 168.75 MPa and the flexural modulus is 2.52 GPa. The observed values are tailor-made for use in moderate-duty load to light-duty load applications.

•
Compression strength showed 43.5 MPa, which is slightly lower than its peers, but the maximum compressive stress is 563 MPa. Microhardness showed better results with 60 HRB in the case of the Rockwell hardness test. Informed Consent Statement: Not applicable.

Data Availability Statement:
The data presented in this study are available on request from the corresponding authors.