Biomimetic Studies of the Beetle Forewing in China

Abstract

This report reviews biomimetic studies performed in China on the beetle forewing, noting that Chinese scholars studying bionics have substantially advanced various branches of biomimetic research in beetles. The report also proposes the development of branches of bionic research and establishes the foundation for corresponding experiments and theories. Then, using theA. dichotomaforewing as a an example, the cross-sectional shape, orientation of the laminated fiber layers, structure of the trabeculae, and respective mechanical properties of the forewing, as well as their biological significance, are reviewed. 1) The forewing has a lightweight border frame structure and an optimal design of variable cross-sections suitable for different positions, which achieves the specific second moment of inertia required for flight. 2) Due to the non-equiangular, laminated structure of the forewing, there are two types of tensile fracture morphologies: fiber breakage and residual bridging. This study demonstrates the anisotropy and the effectiveness of the forewings tensile strength by analyzing the orientation direction of the fibers. 3) The trabecular structure can be used to efficiently improve the peel resistance of the laminated composites. Based on the above points, possible directions for future work are also indicated in this paper.