Document Detail


Stiffness of desiccating insect wings.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  21160117     Owner:  NLM     Status:  Publisher    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
The stiffness of insect wings is typically determined through experimental measurements. Such experiments are performed on wings removed from insects. However, the wings are subject to desiccation which typically leads to an increase in their stiffness. Although this effect of desiccation is well known, a comprehensive study of the rate of change in stiffness of desiccating insect wings would be a significant aid in planning experiments as well as interpreting data from such experiments. This communication presents a comprehensive experimental analysis of the change in mass and stiffness of gradually desiccating forewings of Painted Lady butterflies (Vanessa cardui). Mass and stiffness of the forewings of five butterflies were simultaneously measured every 10 min over a 24 h period. The averaged results show that wing mass declined exponentially by 21.1% over this time period with a time constant of 9.8 h, while wing stiffness increased linearly by 46.2% at a rate of 23.4 µN mm(-1) h(-1). For the forewings of a single butterfly, the experiment was performed over a period of 1 week, and the results show that wing mass declined exponentially by 52.2% with a time constant of 30.2 h until it reached a steady-state level of 2.00 mg, while wing stiffness increased exponentially by 90.7% until it reached a steady-state level of 1.70 [Formula: see text].
Authors:
T E Mengesha; R R Vallance; R Mittal
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Publication Detail:
Type:  JOURNAL ARTICLE     Date:  2010-12-15
Journal Detail:
Title:  Bioinspiration & biomimetics     Volume:  6     ISSN:  1748-3190     ISO Abbreviation:  -     Publication Date:  2010 Dec 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2010-12-16     Completed Date:  -     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  101292902     Medline TA:  Bioinspir Biomim     Country:  -    
Other Details:
Languages:  ENG     Pagination:  014001     Citation Subset:  -    
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanical Engineering, The George Washington University, 738 Phillips Hall, 801 22nd St NW, Washington, DC 20052, USA.
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