Structure, mechanics and material properties of claw cuticle from mole cricket Gryllotalpaorientalis.

ABSTRACT: Powerful shovel-like forelimbs with special shape, structure and biological materials enable mole cricket to digging efficiently. During digging, the tip of the claw needs to wedge into the soil, and the base needs to withstand considerable anti-shear force. In this study, we analysed the structural characteristics, material composition and mechanical properties of the claw teeth using scanning electron microscopy, plasma atomic emission spectroscopy, nanoindentation and finite element analysis. The results show that the tips of claw teeth have a dense and homogeneous structure and a higher hardness and contents of Mn and Zn compared with the base. The structure of the base of claw teeth has an obvious laminar structure and higher fracture resistance. Moreover, it is speculated from the si

SUBMITTER: Zhang Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6730930 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature