Why a mosquito leg possesses superior load-bearing capacity on water: Experimentals |
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Authors: | Xiang-Qing Kong Jian-Lin Liu Cheng-Wei Wu |
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Institution: | 1. School of Civil and Architectural Engineering, Liaoning University of Technology, Jinzhou 121001, China;2. Department of Engineering Mechanics, China University of Petroleum, Qingdao 266580, China;3. Department of Engineering Mechanics, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116023, China |
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Abstract: | Mosquitoes possess the striking ability to walk on water because each of their legs has a huge water supporting force(WSF) that is 23 times their body weight.Aiming at a full understanding of the origins of this extremely large force,in this study,we concentrate on two aspects of it:the intrinsic properties of the leg surface and the active control of the initial stepping angle of the whole leg.Using a measurement system that we developed ourselves,the WSFs for the original leg samples are compared with those whose surface wax and microstructures have been removed and with those of a different stiffness.The results show that leg f exibility plays a dominant role over surface wax and microstructures on the leg surface in creating the supporting force.Moreover,we discuss the dependence relationship between the maximum WSF and the initial stepping angle,which indicates that the mosquito can regulate this angle to increase or decrease the WSF during landing or takeoff.These finding are helpful for uncovering the locomotion mechanism of aquatic insects and for providing inspiration for the design of microfluids miniature boats,biomimetic robots,and microsensors. |
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Keywords: | Water supporting force Wax coating Surface microstructures Flexibility Initial stepping angle |
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