Abstract
A locust stores the energy needed for jumping in its semi-lunar processes (SLPs) at the end of the hind leg femur, and portion II of the SLP plays a key role in the energy storage–release process. In this paper, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy tests were conducted on portion II to determine its microstructure. The elastic moduli of different directions of portion II were tested by atomic force microscopy. Test data demonstrate that portion II is a layered structure formed by lamination of composite layers with a thickness of 1.09 ± 0.44 µm and chitin layers with a thickness of 0.10 ± 0.02 µm, and the composite layer is a fiber-reinforced structure. The elastic moduli of the composite layers along the fiber direction and perpendicular to the fiber direction are 11.32 ± 1.09 GPa and 10.36 ± 2.64 GPa, respectively. Furthermore, the influence of the change in the thickness of the composite layer, the volume ratio of the composite layer, and the fiber volume content in the composite layer on the maximum von Mises stress and strain energy of portion II was analyzed using the finite element method. The analysis results show that the strain energy corresponding to the actual parameters of portion II is close to the maximum. Under this premise, the maximum von Mises stress is close to the minimum. This suggests that the actual parameters give portion II almost the largest energy storage and then the longest fatigue life.
Highlights
The locust has excellent jumping ability, reaching a jumping speed of 3.2 m/s, a jumping acceleration of 180 m/s2, and a single jump distance more than ten times the body length (0.5–0.6 m).1 To date, the kinematics of locust jumping and kicking movements have been relatively comprehensively studied.2–4 Research on the energy storage characteristics of the locust jumping process found that the semi-lunar processes (SLPs) at the end of the locust’s femur are the main energy storage structure.1 further research on the SLP will help to understand the source of the locust’s excellent jumping ability, which is of great significance.The material composition, structure, mechanical properties, and energy storage properties of SLPs are the subjects of the current research
The actual range of tRVE calculated based on the deviation range of the measured tco and tch is from 0.73 μm to 1.65 μm, where the maximum von Mises stress is close to the minimum and the strain energy is basically equal to other values on the curve
The strain energy corresponding to the actual parameters of portion II is close to the maximum
Summary
The locust has excellent jumping ability, reaching a jumping speed of 3.2 m/s, a jumping acceleration of 180 m/s2, and a single jump distance more than ten times the body length (0.5–0.6 m). To date, the kinematics of locust jumping and kicking movements have been relatively comprehensively studied. Research on the energy storage characteristics of the locust jumping process found that the semi-lunar processes (SLPs) at the end of the locust’s femur are the main energy storage structure. further research on the SLP will help to understand the source of the locust’s excellent jumping ability, which is of great significance.The material composition, structure, mechanical properties, and energy storage properties of SLPs are the subjects of the current research. Research on the energy storage characteristics of the locust jumping process found that the semi-lunar processes (SLPs) at the end of the locust’s femur are the main energy storage structure.. Further research on the SLP will help to understand the source of the locust’s excellent jumping ability, which is of great significance. The material composition, structure, mechanical properties, and energy storage properties of SLPs are the subjects of the current research. Ultraviolet observations showed that the SLP is a compound material composed of 41 GPa5 chitin hard tissue and resilin that can be stretched up to 300% of its resting length and is not affected by creep or stress relaxation.. Further studies have shown that the thickness of resilin in the SLP will change as the locust matures, and these changes accompany changes in jumping ability and performance during each molting cycle..
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