Functional design of beetle leg joints: morphology, tribology, and cuticular microstructure

这项研究的目的是揭示和描述甲虫腿关节的摩擦学、功能和结构特性。模型物体是深色甲虫Zobobas morio和刚果玫瑰金龟帕奇诺达边缘的图像。研究的目的是：1.描述关节的主要形态设计；2.关节角质层的摩擦学特性(包括磨损效应)；3.关节角质层的抗污染性能；4.检查关节中是否存在基于角质层的润滑；5.关节角质层的机械性能(硬度、硬度、弹性)；6.关节角质层的微观结构以及检查可能存在的增强金属。该研究计划包括八个章节。第一章代表了关节主要元素的一般形态描述，是以下阶段的主要描述性基础。第2-8章重点介绍了根据目标选择的关节性能：摩擦学性能、磨损效应、润滑性、抗污染性、力学性能、微观结构和关节角质层的元素组成。本研究将采用X射线显微层析、光学、荧光、扫描和透射电子显微镜、低温扫描电子显微镜、激光共聚焦扫描显微镜、原子力显微镜、能量色散X射线能谱、纳米摩擦学和纳米压痕等方法。该项目的预期结果将被认为是在工程学和材料科学的广泛主题中进一步以仿生为导向的研究的相关和有希望的贡献，并有望在微电子机械系统和机器人研究中进行仿生转移。

The goal of this research is to reveal and describe tribological, functional, and structural properties of joints in beetle’s legs. The model objects are imagoes of the darkling beetle Zophobas morio and Congo rose chafer Pachnoda marginata. The objectives of the research are: 1. Description of the principal morphological design of joints; 2. Study of the tribological properties of the cuticle of joints (including wear effects); 3. Examination of the contamination resistance properties of the cuticle of joints; 4. Checking the supposed presence of cuticular-based lubrication in joints; 5. Study of the mechanical properties of the cuticle of joints (stiffness, hardness, resilience); 6. Description of the microscale structure of the cuticle in joints and checking of possible presence of reinforcing metals. The research program comprises eight chapters. Chapter 1 represents the general morphological description of primary elements of joints and is the primary descriptive base for the following stages. Chapters 2-8 focus on the selected properties of joints according to the objectives: tribological properties, wear effects, lubrication, contamination resistance, mechanical properties, microscale structure, and elementary composition of the cuticle of joints. The methods of X-ray microtomography, light, fluorescence, scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM and TEM), cryo-SEM, confocal laser scanning microscopy, atomic force microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, nanotribology and nanoindentation will be used in the course of this research. The expected results of the project will supposedly be a relevant and promising contribution to further biomimetic-oriented studies in a broad range of topics in both engineering and material sciences and promising for a biomimetic transfer in studies of microelectromechanical systems and robotics.