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ENERGY STORAGE, RELEASE, AND DISSIPATION IN THE GECKO ADHESIONSYSTEM

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 March 2011

Jonathan B. Puthoff ,
Michael Prowse ,
Matt J. Wilkinson  and
Kellar Autumn
Jonathan B. Puthoff
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, Lewis & Clark College, Portland, OR 97219, USA
Michael Prowse
Affiliation:
Materials Science & Eng. Dept., University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
Matt J. Wilkinson
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, Lewis & Clark College, Portland, OR 97219, USA
Kellar Autumn
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, Lewis & Clark College, Portland, OR 97219, USA Materials Science & Eng. Dept., University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
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Abstract

Different types of biological adhesion can be categorized according to thelength scales, structures, and materials involved. The setal adhesion systemof the gekkonid lizards occupies a hierarchy of scales from the toes (~ 1cm) to the terminal spatular pads on the setal branches (~ 100 nm). Thisunique combination of scale and foot-hair morphology allow the animalrobust, controllable, and near-universal adhesion via van der Waalsattraction, but it is also apparent that the mechanical behavior of theβ-keratin plays an important role in an animal’s climbing ability.Experimental results show a four-fold increase in the viscoelastic losstangent of β-keratin, alongside a substantial increase in adhesion of setalarrays, over a range of relative humidity from 10 to 80%. A model ofsingle-spatular deformation predicts that the elastic energy stored in thesetal branches, energy which is not completely recovered on detachment, isstrongly influenced by these properties changes. The enhanced dissipationcharacteristics of the system explain the effects of environmental humidityon the clinging ability of geckos.

Keywords

adhesionbiomaterialviscoelasticity

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