Beijing, October 22 (Reporter Sun Zifa) The latest zoological research paper published by the internationally renowned academic journal Nature reveals the secret of the "crushing undead" of the tiedding beetle said that the reason why the exoskeleton of the tiedy beetle is so hard is that it has the structural characteristics and material composition of the exoskeleton forewings (called elytra), which can make the tiedy beetle withstand a maximum force of 149 Newtons - about 39,000 times its weight.
The findings help explain why huge extrusion forces also do not kill iron beetles, or have applications in architectural and engineering fields such as aviation.
According to reports, the iron beetle is a species that inhabits oak trees and is mainly found on the west coast of North America. These insects do not have the ability to fly out of danger, but they have elytra wings that are resistant to squeezing, that is, the insect can withstand the squeeze and spike attacks of predators, even if it is run over by a car.
Corresponding author David Kisailus of the University of California, Irvine, and colleagues believe that the structural characteristics and material composition of this elytra allow the iron beetle to withstand a force of up to 149 Newtons (about 39,000 times its body weight). Using advanced microscopy, spectroscopic techniques, and mechanical testing, the researchers observed a series of interlocking joints shaped like a puzzle in the center of the elytra of the iron beetle. They found that the geometry of these joints, along with their layered microstructures, allowed the exoskeletons of the iron beetle to achieve excellent mechanical interlocking and toughness.
To test the geometry's potential as a tough mechanical fastener to connect different materials such as plastic and metal– similar to the aerospace industry's need for turbine firmware, the authors fabricated a series of joints using metal composites that simulated the structure and found that they designed joints that were stronger and more tough than commonly used engineering joints. (End)
Source: China News Network