Vagts Steffen, Schlattmann Josef, Kovalev Alexander, Gorb Stanislav N
Department of System Technologies and Engineering Design Methodology, Hamburg University of Technology, Denickestr. 22, D-21079 Hamburg, Germany.
Department of Functional Morphology and Biomechanics, Kiel University, Am Botanischen Garten 9, D-24118 Kiel, Germany.
Biomimetics (Basel). 2018 Jun 8;3(2):12. doi: 10.3390/biomimetics3020012.
Locomotion of walking insects is exceptionally efficient. The function of their leg joints in different movement scenarios depends on their kinematics and contacting conditions between moving parts. The kinematics was previously studied in some insects, but contact mechanics within the joints remains largely unknown. In order to understand the complex topology of the contacting surfaces of the leg joints in the Congo rose beetle (Scarabaeidae, Cetoniinae), we have investigated the shape, the waviness, and the roughness of the joint base and its counter body by applying confocal laser scanning microscopy and white light interferometry. Additionally, we performed nanoindentation tests on the contacting joint surfaces, in order to analyze material properties (elasticity modulus and hardness) of the joint cuticle. We found two topological design principles of the contact surfaces that might be considered as adaptations for reducing frictional drag during leg movements. First, the contact pairs of all leg joints studied consist of convex and concave counterparts. Second, there is a smooth and a rough surface in contact in which microprotuberances are present on the rough surface. These principles might be potentially interesting for technical implications, to design bioinspired joints with both reduced friction and wear rate.
行走昆虫的运动效率极高。它们腿部关节在不同运动场景下的功能取决于其运动学以及运动部件之间的接触条件。此前已对一些昆虫的运动学进行过研究,但关节内部的接触力学在很大程度上仍不为人知。为了了解刚果玫瑰甲虫(金龟科,花金龟亚科)腿部关节接触面的复杂拓扑结构,我们通过应用共聚焦激光扫描显微镜和白光干涉测量法,研究了关节基部及其对应体的形状、波纹度和粗糙度。此外,我们对接触的关节表面进行了纳米压痕测试,以分析关节角质层的材料特性(弹性模量和硬度)。我们发现了接触面的两种拓扑设计原则,这可能被视为在腿部运动过程中减少摩擦阻力的适应性特征。第一,所有研究的腿部关节的接触对均由凸面和凹面组成。第二,接触的表面中有一个光滑面和一个粗糙面,粗糙面上存在微凸起。这些原则对于技术应用可能具有潜在的意义,有助于设计出具有降低摩擦和磨损率的仿生关节。