title: Beetle-inspired bidirectional, asymmetric interlocking using geometry-tunable nanohairs.
abstract: We present bidirectional, asymmetric interlocking behaviors between tilted micro- and nanohair arrays inspired from the actual wing locking device of beetles. The measured shear adhesion force between two identical tilted microhair arrays (1.5 μm radius, 30 μm height) turned out to be higher in the reverse direction than that in the angled direction, suggesting that the directionality of beetle's microtrichia may play a critical role in preventing the elytra from shifting along the middle of insect body. Furthermore, we observed dramatic enhancement of shear adhesion using asymmetric interlocking of various nanohair arrays (tilting angle, δ < 40°). A maximum shear locking force of ∼60 N/cm(2) was measured for the nanohair arrays of 50 nm radius and 1 μm height with a hysteresis as high as ∼3. A simple theoretical model was developed to describe the measured asymmetric adhesion forces and hysteresis, in good agreement with the experimental data.
authors: Division of WCU Multiscale Mechanical Design, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, Korea.
authors: Changhyun
authors: C
authors: Pang
authors: Sang Moon
authors: SM
authors: Kim
authors: Yudi
authors: Y
authors: Rahmawan
authors: Kahp-Yang
authors: KY
authors: Suh
mesh_terms: D000179:Acrylates / Q000737:chemistry; D000268:Adhesiveness; D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D032701:Biomimetics; D001517:Coleoptera; D007313:Insecta; D008422:Materials Testing; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning / Q000379:methods; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D053758:Nanoparticles; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D011140:Polyurethanes / Q000737:chemistry; D033081:Shear Strength; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D014921:Wings, Animal / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000179:Acrylates; D011140:Polyurethanes; C036658:acrylic acid