Friction and Wear Properties of the Tergum Surface of Mole Cricket, Gryllotalpa orientalis

Abstract:

Mole cricket is typical insect living under the ground, which tergum is the main component that suffers the wear and tear from the soil particles. In order to adapt this environment, mole crickets have anatomically evolved well-suited tergum with wear-resistance property, which can protect the body from abrasion and damage. In this study, the surface morphology and structure of the tergum of mole cricket were studied and analyzed by stereomicroscope (SM) and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). By using a Universal Micro-Tribotester (UMT), the friction-wear properties and the performances of the tergum surface were tested along with the head direction, tail direction and lateral direction of body, respectively. The result shows that the setae have obvious influence on the friction characteristic of mole crickets tergum. By comparing with other direction, the tergum surface has better friction properties on the setae growth direction. This study can be a reference for the design of novel wear resistance surface.

• Periodical: Applied Mechanics and Materials (Volume 461)
• Pages: 707-711
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.461.707
• Online since: November 2013
• Authors: Yan Zhang, He Huang, Jun Xia Zhang, Si Bo Zhang, Lu Quan Ren
• Keywords: Bionics, Biotribology, Friction, Mole Cricket, Tergum, Wear

References

[1] Hutchings I M. Tribology – Friction and Wear of Engineering Materials[M], London: Edward Arnold, (1992).

[2] Yang N, Nayeb-Hashemi H. The effect of solid particle erosion on the mechanical properties and fatigue life of fiber-reinforced composites. Journal of Composite Materials, 2007, 41, 559-574.

DOI: 10.1177/0021998306065288

[3] Harsha A P, Tewari U S, Venkatraman B. Solid particle erosion behavior of various polyaryletherketone composites, Wear, 2003, 254, 693–712.

DOI: 10.1016/s0043-1648(03)00143-1

[4] Zhou R, Lu D H, Jinag Y H, Li Q N. Mechanical properties and erosion wear resistance of polyurethane matrix composites. Wear, 2005, 259, 676–683.

DOI: 10.1016/j.wear.2005.02.118

[5] Tong J, Lü T B, Ma Y H, Wang H K, Ren L Q, Arnell R D. Two-Body Abrasive Wear of the Surfaces of Pangolin Scales. Journal of Bionic Engineering, 2007, 4, 77-84.

DOI: 10.1016/s1672-6529(07)60017-1

[6] Yu M, Hermann I, Dai Z D, Gitis N. Mechanical and Frictional Properties of the Elytra of Five Species of Beetles Original. Journal of Bionic Engineering, 2013, 10, 77-83.

DOI: 10.1016/s1672-6529(13)60201-2

[7] Gebeshuber I C. Biotribology inspires new technologies. Nano Today, 2007, 2, 30–37.

DOI: 10.1016/s1748-0132(07)70141-x

[8] Gebeshuber I C, Drack M, Scherge M. Tribology in biology. Tribology: Materials, Surfaces & Interfaces, 2008, 2, 200-212.

DOI: 10.1179/175158308x383206

[9] Endo C. The underground life of the oriental mole cricket, an analysis of burrow morphology[J]. Journal of Zoology, 2007, 273: 414–420.

DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-7998.2007.00345.x

[10] Ren L Q, Liang Y H. Biological couplings: Function, characteristics and implementation mode. Science China Technological Sciences, 2010, 53, 379-387.

DOI: 10.1007/s11431-010-0043-2

[11] Wang S B, Ge S R, Zhang D. Comparison of tribological behavior of nylon composites filled with zinc oxide particles and whiskers. Wear, 2009, 266, 248–254.

DOI: 10.1016/j.wear.2008.06.019

[12] Desutter-Grandcolas L. Comparative morphology of cercal structures in true crickets and their allies(Orthoptera, Ensifera): a phylogenetic perspective[J]. Zoomorphology, 1998, 118: 235–243.

DOI: 10.1007/s004350050072

[13] Zhang Y, Zhou C H, Ren L Q. Biology coupling characteristics of mole crickets' soil-engaging components. Journal of Bionic Engineering, 2008, 5, S164-S171.

DOI: 10.1016/s1672-6529(08)60089-x

[14] Kheireddin B A, Williams T C, Akbulut M. Tribological properties of femur–tibia articulation of lubber grasshopper. Tribology International, 2012, 50, 76-81.

DOI: 10.1016/j.triboint.2012.02.001

[15] Sánchez R, Stringari G B, Franco J M, Valencia C, Gallegos C. Use of chitin, chitosan and acylated derivatives as thickener agents of vegetable oils for bio-lubricant applications. Carbohydrate Polymers, 2011, 85, 705–714.

DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2011.03.049

[16] El-Tayeb N S M, Mostafab I M. The effect of laminate orientations on friction and wear mechanisms of glass reinforced polyester composite. Wear, 1996, 195, 186–191.

DOI: 10.1016/0043-1648(95)06849-x

[17] Suresha B, Chandramohan G, Sampathkumaran P, Seetharamu S, Vynatheya S. Friction and wear characteristics of carbon-epoxy and glass-epoxy woven roving fiber composites. Journal of Reinforced Plastics and Composites, 2006, 25, 771-782.

DOI: 10.1177/0731684406063540

[18] Rabinowicz E. Friction and Wear of Materials, Wiley, USA, (1995).

[19] Ren L Q, Tong J, Li J Q, Chen B C. Soil and Water: Soil Adhesion and Biomimetics of Soil-engaging Components: a Review. Journal of Agricultural Engineering Research, 2001, 79, 239–263.

DOI: 10.1006/jaer.2001.0722