Interfacial propulsion by directional adhesion

The rough integument of water-walking arthropods is well-known to be responsible for their water-repellency [1], [2], [3] and [4]; however, water-repellent surfaces generally experience reduced traction at an air–water interface [5], [6], [7] and [8]. A conundrum then arises as to how such creatures...

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Main Authors: Prakash, Manu, Bush, John W. M.
Other Authors: Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Mathematics
Format: Article
Language:en_US
Published: Elsevier 2015
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/99431
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7936-7256
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author Prakash, Manu
Bush, John W. M.
author2 Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Mathematics
author_facet Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Mathematics
Prakash, Manu
Bush, John W. M.
author_sort Prakash, Manu
collection MIT
description The rough integument of water-walking arthropods is well-known to be responsible for their water-repellency [1], [2], [3] and [4]; however, water-repellent surfaces generally experience reduced traction at an air–water interface [5], [6], [7] and [8]. A conundrum then arises as to how such creatures generate significant propulsive forces while retaining their water-repellency. We here demonstrate through a series of experiments that they do so by virtue of the detailed form of their integument; specifically, their tilted, flexible hairs interact with the free surface to generate directionally anisotropic adhesive forces that facilitate locomotion. We thus provide new rationale for the fundamental topological difference in the roughness on plants and water-walking arthropods, and suggest new directions for the design and fabrication of unidirectional superhydrophobic surfaces.
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spelling mit-1721.1/994312022-10-02T06:13:53Z Interfacial propulsion by directional adhesion Prakash, Manu Bush, John W. M. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Mathematics Bush, John W. M. The rough integument of water-walking arthropods is well-known to be responsible for their water-repellency [1], [2], [3] and [4]; however, water-repellent surfaces generally experience reduced traction at an air–water interface [5], [6], [7] and [8]. A conundrum then arises as to how such creatures generate significant propulsive forces while retaining their water-repellency. We here demonstrate through a series of experiments that they do so by virtue of the detailed form of their integument; specifically, their tilted, flexible hairs interact with the free surface to generate directionally anisotropic adhesive forces that facilitate locomotion. We thus provide new rationale for the fundamental topological difference in the roughness on plants and water-walking arthropods, and suggest new directions for the design and fabrication of unidirectional superhydrophobic surfaces. 2015-10-23T14:33:49Z 2015-10-23T14:33:49Z 2010-12 Article http://purl.org/eprint/type/JournalArticle 00207462 http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/99431 Prakash, Manu, and John W.M. Bush. “Interfacial Propulsion by Directional Adhesion.” International Journal of Non-Linear Mechanics 46, no. 4 (May 2011): 607–615. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7936-7256 en_US http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnonlinmec.2010.12.003 International Journal of Non-Linear Mechanics Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-NoDerivatives http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ application/pdf Elsevier PMC
spellingShingle Prakash, Manu
Bush, John W. M.
Interfacial propulsion by directional adhesion
title Interfacial propulsion by directional adhesion
title_full Interfacial propulsion by directional adhesion
title_fullStr Interfacial propulsion by directional adhesion
title_full_unstemmed Interfacial propulsion by directional adhesion
title_short Interfacial propulsion by directional adhesion
title_sort interfacial propulsion by directional adhesion
url http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/99431
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7936-7256
work_keys_str_mv AT prakashmanu interfacialpropulsionbydirectionaladhesion
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