title: The speed of sound in silk: linking material performance to biological function.
abstract: Sonic properties of spider silks are measured independent of the web using laser vibrometry and ballistic impact providing insights into Nature's design of functionalized high-performance materials. Through comparison to cocoon silk and other industrial fibers, we find that major ampullate silk has the largest wavespeed range of any known material.
authors.affiliation: University of Oxford, Department of Zoology, Oxford, OX1 3PS, UK.
authors.forename: Beth
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mortimer
authors.forename: Shira D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Gordon
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Holland
authors.forename: Clive R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Siviour
authors.forename: Fritz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vollrath
authors.forename: James F C
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Windmill
mesh_terms: D003198:Computer Simulation; D055119:Elastic Modulus; D008422:Materials Testing / Q000379:methods*; D008956:Models, Chemical; D009991:Oscillometry / Q000379:methods*; D012542:Scattering, Radiation; D047011:Silk / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D013016:Sound
chemical_list: D047011:Silk
keywords: resonance; signalling; silk; vibration; web