For the development of lightweight biomimetic materials, the compressive properties of the beetle elytron plate(BEP, a type of biomimetic sandwich plate inspired from beetle elytra) and the underlying mechanism thereo...For the development of lightweight biomimetic materials, the compressive properties of the beetle elytron plate(BEP, a type of biomimetic sandwich plate inspired from beetle elytra) and the underlying mechanism thereof were investigated. With the following results:(1) The shared mechanism of trabeculae was revealed by using structural analysis. It is further predicted that a BEP with hollow trabeculae should possess enhanced compressive properties.(2) When the trabecular number(N) in a hexagonal unit of the honeycomb is less than three, the compressive strength of the BEP is rapidly increased with the increment of N. When N is over four, the deformation capacity is significantly improved because of the arising of S-type buckling deformation in the core structure of the BEP. Furthermore, the definition of the BEP is proposed combined with the biological structure of the beetle elytra.(3) When N=6 and the external diameter of trabeculae is equal to the length of honeycomb walls, the synergistic mechanism between the trabeculae and the honeycomb walls in BEPs is fully exerted. Namely, the trabecula restricts the deformation of the honeycomb walls; in turn, the honeycomb walls provide lateral support for the trabecula. This mechanism leads the core in the BEP to generate an S-type global buckling deformation producing the best compressive properties. The results will greatly impact the biomimetic field of beetle elytra and many industries in which honeycomb structure also serves as a key component.展开更多
Aerodynamic characteristics of the beetle, Trypoxylus dichotomus, which has a pair of elytra （forewings） and flexible hind wings, are investigated. Visualization experiments were conducted for various flight conditi...Aerodynamic characteristics of the beetle, Trypoxylus dichotomus, which has a pair of elytra （forewings） and flexible hind wings, are investigated. Visualization experiments were conducted for various flight conditions of a beetle, Trypoxylus di- chotomus： free, tethered, hovering, forward and climbing flights. Leading edge, trailing edge and tip vortices on both wings were observed clearly. The leading edge vortex was stable and remained on the top surface of the elytron for a wide interval during the downstroke of free forward flight. Hence, the elytron may have a considerable role in lift force generation of the beetle. In addition, we reveal a suction phenomenon between the gaps of the hind wing and the elytron in upstroke that may improve the positive lift force on the hind wing. We also found the reverse clap-fling mechanism of the T. dichotomus beetle in hovering flight. The hind wings touch together at the beginning of the upstroke. The vortex generation, shedding and interaction give a better understanding of the detailed aerodynamic mechanism of beetle flight.展开更多
The compressive mechanical properties,failure modes and foam filler strengthening mechanism and effect of a short basalt fiber-reinforced epoxy resin composite grid beetle elytron plate with a polyvinyl chloride(PVC)f...The compressive mechanical properties,failure modes and foam filler strengthening mechanism and effect of a short basalt fiber-reinforced epoxy resin composite grid beetle elytron plate with a polyvinyl chloride(PVC)foam-filled core(GBEPfc)are investigated via compression experiments and the finite element method.The results are compared with those of a grid plate(GPfc)with the same wall thickness as the GBEPfc.Additionally,a fully integrated preparation method and process are developed for the GBEPfc,with a material composition that is close to the structure and composition of the organism.Increases of more than 20%in the specific compressive strength and specific energy absorption of the GBEPfcrelative to the GPfcare ascertained.The foam provides a constraining force for the fiber composite structure;consequently,the trabeculae and honeycomb walls of the core transition from a lower-order deformation that easily occurs to a higher-order deformation that occurs less readily.The interaction between the core composite structure and PVC foam is described.The GBEPfcdeveloped in this paper is simple in structure and easy to prepare,and the material composition is close to biological prototypes and materials used in practical engineerings,which lays a foundation for the application of beetle elytron plates.展开更多
To improve the flexural properties of Beetle Elytron Plates(BEPs)and clarify the effect of the transition arcs(chamfers)between the skins and the trabeculae,the chamfers were set in BEPs,and then the influence of the ...To improve the flexural properties of Beetle Elytron Plates(BEPs)and clarify the effect of the transition arcs(chamfers)between the skins and the trabeculae,the chamfers were set in BEPs,and then the influence of the chamfer on BEPs'mechanical properties was investigated via experimentation and the Finite Elemnent Method simulation(FEM).The results indicate that the influence of the chamfer on the flexural properties and ductility was most obvious in the Trabecular Beetle Elytron Plates(TBEPs),less obvious in the Honeycomb Plates(HPs)and basically no efiect was observed on End-trabecular Beetle Elytron Plates(EBEPs).The chamfer can improve the mechanical stability of EBEPSs.As the chamfer diameter increased in the BEPs,the length of the residual trabecular root on the skin increased when failure occurred in the TBEPs.The crack position in the honeycomb wallsof the HPs gradually shifted from the skin to the center.The EBEPs continued to exhibit oblique cracks.From the perspective of the force characteristics of these BEPs.combined with numerical simulation,the influence mechanism of the chamfer on their flcxural propertics was investigated.展开更多
To improve the mechanical properties of Trabecular Beetle Elytron Plates(TBEPs,a type of biomimetic sandwich structure inspired by the beetle elytron)under transverse loads,three-point bending tests are performed to i...To improve the mechanical properties of Trabecular Beetle Elytron Plates(TBEPs,a type of biomimetic sandwich structure inspired by the beetle elytron)under transverse loads,three-point bending tests are performed to investigate the influence of the trabecular and chamfer radii of the core structure on the mechanical performance of TBEPs manufactured by 3D printing technology.The results show that the three-point bending performance of TBEPs can be improved by setting reasonable trabecular and chamfer radii;however,excessive increases in these radii can cause a decline in the mechanical performance.For the reason,these two structural parameters can enhance the deformation stiffness of the whole structure and the connection property between the core and skin,which is also the mechanical reason why Prosopocoilus inclinatus beetle elytra have thick,short trabeculae with a large chamfer radius.However,when these radii increase to a certain extent,the cracks are ultimately controlled between two adjacent trabeculae,and the failure of the plate is determined by the skin rather than the core structure.Therefore,this study suggests a reasonable range for trabecular and chamfer radii,and indicates that TBEPs are better suited for engineering applications that have high compression requirements and general bending requirements.展开更多
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.51875102)
文摘For the development of lightweight biomimetic materials, the compressive properties of the beetle elytron plate(BEP, a type of biomimetic sandwich plate inspired from beetle elytra) and the underlying mechanism thereof were investigated. With the following results:(1) The shared mechanism of trabeculae was revealed by using structural analysis. It is further predicted that a BEP with hollow trabeculae should possess enhanced compressive properties.(2) When the trabecular number(N) in a hexagonal unit of the honeycomb is less than three, the compressive strength of the BEP is rapidly increased with the increment of N. When N is over four, the deformation capacity is significantly improved because of the arising of S-type buckling deformation in the core structure of the BEP. Furthermore, the definition of the BEP is proposed combined with the biological structure of the beetle elytra.(3) When N=6 and the external diameter of trabeculae is equal to the length of honeycomb walls, the synergistic mechanism between the trabeculae and the honeycomb walls in BEPs is fully exerted. Namely, the trabecula restricts the deformation of the honeycomb walls; in turn, the honeycomb walls provide lateral support for the trabecula. This mechanism leads the core in the BEP to generate an S-type global buckling deformation producing the best compressive properties. The results will greatly impact the biomimetic field of beetle elytra and many industries in which honeycomb structure also serves as a key component.
文摘Aerodynamic characteristics of the beetle, Trypoxylus dichotomus, which has a pair of elytra （forewings） and flexible hind wings, are investigated. Visualization experiments were conducted for various flight conditions of a beetle, Trypoxylus di- chotomus： free, tethered, hovering, forward and climbing flights. Leading edge, trailing edge and tip vortices on both wings were observed clearly. The leading edge vortex was stable and remained on the top surface of the elytron for a wide interval during the downstroke of free forward flight. Hence, the elytron may have a considerable role in lift force generation of the beetle. In addition, we reveal a suction phenomenon between the gaps of the hind wing and the elytron in upstroke that may improve the positive lift force on the hind wing. We also found the reverse clap-fling mechanism of the T. dichotomus beetle in hovering flight. The hind wings touch together at the beginning of the upstroke. The vortex generation, shedding and interaction give a better understanding of the detailed aerodynamic mechanism of beetle flight.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.51875102)。
文摘The compressive mechanical properties,failure modes and foam filler strengthening mechanism and effect of a short basalt fiber-reinforced epoxy resin composite grid beetle elytron plate with a polyvinyl chloride(PVC)foam-filled core(GBEPfc)are investigated via compression experiments and the finite element method.The results are compared with those of a grid plate(GPfc)with the same wall thickness as the GBEPfc.Additionally,a fully integrated preparation method and process are developed for the GBEPfc,with a material composition that is close to the structure and composition of the organism.Increases of more than 20%in the specific compressive strength and specific energy absorption of the GBEPfcrelative to the GPfcare ascertained.The foam provides a constraining force for the fiber composite structure;consequently,the trabeculae and honeycomb walls of the core transition from a lower-order deformation that easily occurs to a higher-order deformation that occurs less readily.The interaction between the core composite structure and PVC foam is described.The GBEPfcdeveloped in this paper is simple in structure and easy to prepare,and the material composition is close to biological prototypes and materials used in practical engineerings,which lays a foundation for the application of beetle elytron plates.
基金funded by the National Key R&D Program of China(Grant No.2017YFC0703700).
文摘To improve the flexural properties of Beetle Elytron Plates(BEPs)and clarify the effect of the transition arcs(chamfers)between the skins and the trabeculae,the chamfers were set in BEPs,and then the influence of the chamfer on BEPs'mechanical properties was investigated via experimentation and the Finite Elemnent Method simulation(FEM).The results indicate that the influence of the chamfer on the flexural properties and ductility was most obvious in the Trabecular Beetle Elytron Plates(TBEPs),less obvious in the Honeycomb Plates(HPs)and basically no efiect was observed on End-trabecular Beetle Elytron Plates(EBEPs).The chamfer can improve the mechanical stability of EBEPSs.As the chamfer diameter increased in the BEPs,the length of the residual trabecular root on the skin increased when failure occurred in the TBEPs.The crack position in the honeycomb wallsof the HPs gradually shifted from the skin to the center.The EBEPs continued to exhibit oblique cracks.From the perspective of the force characteristics of these BEPs.combined with numerical simulation,the influence mechanism of the chamfer on their flcxural propertics was investigated.
基金The work was financially supported by the National Key R&D Program of China under project 2017YFC0703700.
文摘To improve the mechanical properties of Trabecular Beetle Elytron Plates(TBEPs,a type of biomimetic sandwich structure inspired by the beetle elytron)under transverse loads,three-point bending tests are performed to investigate the influence of the trabecular and chamfer radii of the core structure on the mechanical performance of TBEPs manufactured by 3D printing technology.The results show that the three-point bending performance of TBEPs can be improved by setting reasonable trabecular and chamfer radii;however,excessive increases in these radii can cause a decline in the mechanical performance.For the reason,these two structural parameters can enhance the deformation stiffness of the whole structure and the connection property between the core and skin,which is also the mechanical reason why Prosopocoilus inclinatus beetle elytra have thick,short trabeculae with a large chamfer radius.However,when these radii increase to a certain extent,the cracks are ultimately controlled between two adjacent trabeculae,and the failure of the plate is determined by the skin rather than the core structure.Therefore,this study suggests a reasonable range for trabecular and chamfer radii,and indicates that TBEPs are better suited for engineering applications that have high compression requirements and general bending requirements.
