title: The functional significance of density and distribution of outgrowths on co-opted contact pairs in biological arresting systems.
abstract: Microstructures responsible for temporary arresting of contacting surfaces are widely distributed on surfaces in different organisms. Recent morphological studies show that these structures have different density of outgrowths and not ideal distribution pattern on both complementary parts of the contact. One can suggest that this difference is optimized by natural selection to get stronger mechanical arrest within the system. In this paper, we simulate such a system numerically, both in the frames of continuous contact and discrete dynamical models to prove this hypothesis and elucidate other aspects of optimization of such mechanical adhesive systems.
authors.affiliation: Department of Functional Morphology and Biomechanics, Zoological Institute of the University of Kiel, Am Botanischen Garten 1-9, 24098 Kiel, Germany Donetsk Institute for Physics and Engineering, National Academy of Sciences, 83114 Donetsk, Ukraine.
authors.forename: Alexander E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Filippov
authors.affiliation: FG Systemdynamik und Reibungsphysik, Technische Universität Berlin, Institut für Mechanik, Sekr. C8-4, Raum M 122, Straße des 17. Juni 135, 10623 Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Valentin L
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Popov
authors.affiliation: Department of Functional Morphology and Biomechanics, Zoological Institute of the University of Kiel, Am Botanischen Garten 1-9, 24098 Kiel, Germany sgorb@zoologie.uni-kiel.de.
authors.forename: Stanislav N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Gorb
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D007313:Insecta / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D034582:Integumentary System; D008954:Models, Biological; D009068:Movement; D013499:Surface Properties
keywords: adhesion; arresting system; attachment; biomechanics; numerical simulation; structure