Multiscale structural gradients enhance the biomechanical functionality of the spider fang

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Benny Bar-On - , Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces (Author)
  • Friedrich G. Barth - , University of Vienna (Author)
  • Peter Fratzl - , Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces (Author)
  • Yael Politi - , Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces (Author)

Abstract

The spider fang is a natural injection needle, hierarchically built from a complex composite material comprising multiscale architectural gradients. Considering its biomechanical function, the spider fang has to sustain significant mechanical loads. Here we apply experiment-based structural modelling of the fang, followed by analytical mechanical description and Finite-Element simulations, the results of which indicate that the naturally evolved fang architecture results in highly adapted effective structural stiffness and damage resilience. The analysis methods and physical insights of this work are potentially important for investigating and understanding the architecture and structural motifs of sharp-edge biological elements such as stingers, teeth, claws and more.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number3894
JournalNature communications
Volume5
Publication statusPublished - 27 May 2014
Peer-reviewedYes
Externally publishedYes

External IDs

PubMed 24866935
ORCID /0000-0002-2872-8277/work/142239165