Research on the microstructure of insect cuticle and the strength of a biomimetic preformed hole composite

Chen, B.; Peng, Xianghe; Wang, W.; Zhang, Jun; Zhang, R.

doi:10.1016/s0968-4328(02)00014-8

Cited by 27 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…Tensile strengths observed in the thoracic and abdominal cuticles of P. americana (∼3 MPa), B. craniifer (∼10 MPa), and G. portentosa (∼20 MPa), occur within the range of tensile and compressive strengths documented in different insect species (e.g., Ashby et al, 1995; Chen et al, 2002), and various natural elastomers (e.g., leathers, cartilage, and skin) as well as natural polymer composites (e.g., ligaments, tendon, and wool) (Ashby et al, 1995). Cuticular tensile strength and strain energy storage per volume (work of extension, or toughness) are especially important material properties to measure when assessing extreme mechanical stresses, strains, and failure resulting from successful predatory strikes.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 62%

Mechanical properties of the cuticles of three cockroach species that differ in their wind-evoked escape behavior

Clark

Triblehorn

2014

PeerJ

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The structural and material properties of insect cuticle remain largely unexplored, even though they comprise the majority (approximately 80%) of animals. Insect cuticle serves many functions, including protection against predatory attacks, which is especially beneficial to species failing to employ effective running escape responses. Despite recent advances in our understanding of insect escape behaviors and the biomechanics of insect cuticle, there are limited studies on the protective qualities of cuticle to extreme mechanical stresses and strains imposed by predatory attacks, and how these qualities vary between species employing different escape responses. Blattarians (cockroaches) provide an appropriate model system for such studies. Wind-evoked running escape responses are strong in Periplaneta americana, weak in Blaberus craniifer and absent in Gromphodorhina portentosa, putting the latter two species at greater risk of being struck by a predator. We hypothesized that the exoskeletons in these two larger species could provide more protection from predatory strikes relative to the exoskeleton of P. americana. We quantified the protective qualities of the exoskeletons by measuring the puncture resistance, tensile strength, strain energy storage, and peak strain in fresh samples of thoracic and abdominal cuticles from these three species. We found a continuum in puncture resistance, tensile strength, and strain energy storage between the three species, which were greatest in G. portentosa, moderate in B. craniifer, and smallest in P. americana. Histological measurements of total cuticle thickness followed this same pattern. However, peak strain followed a different trend between species. The comparisons in the material properties drawn between the cuticles of G. portentosa, B. craniifer, and P. americana demonstrate parallels between cuticular biomechanics and predator running escape responses.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 62%

Mechanical properties of the cuticles of three cockroach species that differ in their wind-evoked escape behavior

Clark

Triblehorn

2014

PeerJ

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“…Based on Fig. 18(b, c), B Chen hypothesized that the fibers in the pipes of plies and near the hole had a high density and maintained a continuous bypass arrangement, which coincided with the phenomenon of stress concentration at the edge of the hole [110]. He also analyzed a plate with fibers near the hole and an ordinary plate with a hole, deducing that the former could theoretically bear considerably greater stress compared with the latter, which was confirmed by testing the tensile properties of two types of composite plates with glass fiber-reinforced epoxy resins on top.…”

Section: Fiber-bypassing Holes In the Forewings And Their Mechanical mentioning

confidence: 96%

“…He also analyzed a plate with fibers near the hole and an ordinary plate with a hole, deducing that the former could theoretically bear considerably greater stress compared with the latter, which was confirmed by testing the tensile properties of two types of composite plates with glass fiber-reinforced epoxy resins on top. The results indicated that the plate with the fibers near the hole exhibited a greater load-bearing capacity than the plate with the hole, and the effect was directly proportional to the diameter of the hole [110,111].…”

Section: Fiber-bypassing Holes In the Forewings And Their Mechanical mentioning

confidence: 97%

“…18a), in which the angle of two adjacent plies was 85°, whereas the angle was 25°after an interval of one ply, correspond to the distribution of fibers near the hole (Fig. 18b, c) [109][110][111][112]. Based on Fig.…”

Section: Fiber-bypassing Holes In the Forewings And Their Mechanical mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…18(a), B Chen observed that the fracture toughness values of conventional ply plates ([0 2 /±/45 2 /90 2 ] s ) and dual helicoidal ply biomimetic composite plates composed of resins and glass fibers were 20.6 MPa and 23.4 MPa, respectively. In other words, the fracture toughness of dual helicoidal ply biomimetic composite plates could be increased by nearly 15% [109,110]. Based on Fig.…”

Section: Fiber-bypassing Holes In the Forewings And Their Mechanical mentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Review of beetle forewing structures and their biomimetic applications in China: (I) On the structural colors and the vertical and horizontal cross-sectional structures

Chen

Xie

et al. 2015

Materials Science and Engineering: C

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Structural Design Variations in Beetle Elytra

Rivera

Murata

Hosseini

et al. 2021

Adv Funct Materials

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Beetles typically use their protective wing coverings or elytra to shield their membranous hindwings from the environment. Elytra in some terrestrial species have evolved a greater protective role capable of shielding the organism from powerful antagonistic predators. The structure-function relationships of these biological composites identify how architectural and chemical variations of the cuticle are tuned to create light-weight, impact resistant composites. Specifically, the elytral structures of a tree dwelling beetle capable of flight, Trypoxylus dichotomus, and a terrestrial beetle incapable of flight, Phloeodes diabolicus, are compared to understand how their varied environmental needs forged the elytra to facilitate fight or resist fatal predator strikes. Mechanical and microstructural analysis reveals P. diabolicus has a harder, stiffer elytra that incorporate through-thickness fibers to resist greater mechanical stresses imposed by bending and puncture. Conversely, the elytra of T. dichotomus have a compliant structure with large voids that facilitates localized deformation. Variations in flexural strength and puncture resistance remain attributed to P. diabolicus possessing a thicker cuticle with a greater degree of cross-linking and an increased amount of endocuticular layers. These findings may provide useful insight into the design and manufacturing of composite materials for use in light-weight or energy-absorbing applications.

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Research on the microstructure of insect cuticle and the strength of a biomimetic preformed hole composite

Cited by 27 publications

References 4 publications

Mechanical properties of the cuticles of three cockroach species that differ in their wind-evoked escape behavior

Mechanical properties of the cuticles of three cockroach species that differ in their wind-evoked escape behavior

Review of beetle forewing structures and their biomimetic applications in China: (I) On the structural colors and the vertical and horizontal cross-sectional structures

Structural Design Variations in Beetle Elytra

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