Viscoelastic features of adhesive setae of the tokay gecko (Gekko gecko L.)

Deformations of particular setae of adhesive toe pad of the tokay gecko were investigated by atomic-force microscopy. The effective elastic modulus of the investigated setae varying within 0.34–19 GPa, a pronounced hysteresis was observed during reversible bending of setae. The hysteresis-related en...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Doklady. Biological sciences 2016-03, Vol.467 (1), p.82-85
Main Authors: Ivlev, Yu. F., Il’in, A. I., Trofimov, O. V.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal Structures
Animals
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Elastic Modulus
Evolutionary Biology
General Biology
Life Sciences
Lizards
Plant Sciences
Skin
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Summary:Deformations of particular setae of adhesive toe pad of the tokay gecko were investigated by atomic-force microscopy. The effective elastic modulus of the investigated setae varying within 0.34–19 GPa, a pronounced hysteresis was observed during reversible bending of setae. The hysteresis-related energy losses may be as high as 98% of the total bending work. The pronounced viscous features of the setae contradict the hypothesis of dynamic self-cleaning of the gecko adhesive cover, according to which the setae are considered as absolutely elastic cantilever beams.
ISSN:0012-4966
1608-3105
DOI:10.1134/S0012496616020101