In-situ mechanical test of dragonfly wing veins and their crack arrest behavior

Zhihui Zhang; Lan Zhang; Zhenglei Yu; Jingjing Liu; Xiujuan Li; Yunhong Liang

doi:10.1016/j.micron.2018.05.003

In-situ mechanical test of dragonfly wing veins and their crack arrest behavior

Micron. 2018 Jul:110:67-72. doi: 10.1016/j.micron.2018.05.003. Epub 2018 May 5.

Authors

Zhihui Zhang¹, Lan Zhang², Zhenglei Yu², Jingjing Liu², Xiujuan Li³, Yunhong Liang¹

Affiliations

¹ Key Lab of Bionic Engineering, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun 130025, China; State Key Laboratory of Automotive Simulation and Control, Jilin University, Changchun 130025, China.
² Key Lab of Bionic Engineering, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun 130025, China.
³ Key Lab of Bionic Engineering, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun 130025, China. Electronic address: xiujuanli@jlu.edu.cn.

PMID: 29753176
DOI: 10.1016/j.micron.2018.05.003

Abstract

In natural biological systems, many insects in complex environments exhibit exemplary mechanical properties. Dragonfly wings are light and strong enough to withstand wind loading. Their rigid veins play supporting and strengthening roles to enhance resistance to fatigue. To explore the effect of veins on arresting cracking in the wing, the costa, subcosta, radius R1, and two areas of dragonfly hind wings were samples for in situ tensile tests. The fracture process of the samples was observed with a high-speed camera and a scanning electron microscope. The mechanical properties of the veins and the results of nanomechanical tests on the wings were analyzed. The costa was stiffer and more resistant to deformation than the subcosta and radius, but it was less tough. The results of this study may provide inspiration for the design of mechanical structures and materials.

Keywords: Crack arrest; Dragonfly wing; In situ tensile test; Tensile properties; Vein.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't