title: Analysis of preload-dependent reversible mechanical interlocking using beetle-inspired wing locking device.
abstract: We report an analysis of preload-dependent reversible interlocking between regularly arrayed, high aspect ratio (AR) polymer micro- and nanofibers. Such a reversible interlocking is inspired from the wing-locking device of a beetle where densely populated microhairs (termed microtrichia) on the cuticular surface form numerous hair-to-hair contacts to maximize lateral shear adhesion. To mimic this, we fabricate various high AR, vertical micro- and nanopillars on a flexible substrate and investigate the shear locking force with different preloads (0.1-10 N/cm(2)). A simple theoretical model is developed based on the competition between van der Waals (VdW) attraction and deflection forces of pillars, which can explain the preload-dependent maximum deflection, tilting angle, and total shear adhesion force.
authors.affiliation: Division of WCU Multiscale Mechanical Design, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, Korea.
authors.forename: Changhyun
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pang
authors.forename: Daeshik
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Tae-il
authors.initials: TI
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Kahp-Yang
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Suh
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D032701:Biomimetics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D001517:Coleoptera / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D055595:Mechanical Phenomena; D055616:Microtechnology / Q000295:instrumentation*; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000295:instrumentation*; D011108:Polymers; D014921:Wings, Animal / Q000033:anatomy & histology*
chemical_list: D011108:Polymers