Anisotropic adhesion of micropillars with spatula pads.
Natural gecko adhesive structures consisting of angled setae, branched into thin spatulas, have remarkable properties including easily attachable and releasable anisotropic adhesion. The geometrically asymmetric structures lead to anisotropic adhesive properties. Inspired by the gecko, we fabricated an array of micropillars with asymmetric spatula pads from elastomeric materials. This paper describes the anisotropic properties of the micropillars with spatula pads as established by experimental measurements and observation together with finite element analysis. The results indicate that the structural difference of the spatula pad at one edge of the micropillar provides the anisotropic adhesive properties.
Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), Mechatronics, 123 Cheomdan-gwagiro, Buk-gu, Gwangju 500-712, Republic of Korea.
Seungwan
S
Seo
Jehong
J
Lee
Kwang-Seop
KS
Kim
Kwang Hee
KH
Ko
Jong Hyun
JH
Lee
Jongho
J
Lee
D000268:Adhesiveness; D000269:Adhesives / Q000737:chemistry*; D016880:Anisotropy; D020342:Finite Element Analysis; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
D000269:Adhesives