Arthropod leg joints as biological devices: design, mechanical properties and anti-friction mechanisms

节肢动物的腿关节是复杂的生物装置，是其腿部运动系统的关键组成部分。关节将腿的各个部分相互连接起来，提供节段间的可动性，并确保运动的稳定性和准确性。该研究项目主要研究昆虫、蜈蚣、地蟹和蜘蛛的腿关节。本研究的目的是描述和表示节肢动物的腿关节作为一个生物装置。为了实现这一目标，在腿部关节方面追求以下目标：描述主要形态设计和结构元素的插入；2. 检查结构单元的运动，并将关节表示为运动副；3. 关节角质层材料性能的研究4. 采用有限元法对接头力学性能进行了研究5. 节理减摩机理的研究。显微计算机x射线断层扫描、光、荧光、共聚焦激光扫描显微镜、原子力显微镜、扫描电子显微镜、高速摄像、力测量、微摩擦学、纳米压痕、白光干涉、三维测量显微镜和3D打印等方法将在本研究中使用。该项目的结果应该与揭示节肢动物腿运动系统的仿生潜力有关，并将普遍和根本地有助于理解节肢动物腿关节的形态、解剖学、运动学、材料、力学和功能特性。

Arthropod leg joints are complex biological devices and a key element of their legged locomotor system. Joints connect segments of legs to each other, provide intersegmental movability, and ensure stability and accuracy of movements. The research project focuses on the study of leg joints of insects, centipedes, terrestrial crabs and spiders. The goal of this research is to describe and represent the leg joints of arthropods as a biological device. To achieve this goal, the following objectives are pursued with respect to the leg joints: 1. Description of the principal morphological design and interposition of structural elements; 2. Examination of the motions of the structural elements and representing joints as a kinematic pair; 3. Study of the material properties of the cuticle of the joints; 4. Investigation of the mechanical properties of the joints by the finite element method; 5. Study of the anti-friction mechanisms of the joints. The methods of micro-computed X-ray tomography, light, fluorescence, confocal laser scanning microscopy, atomic-force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, high-speed videography, force measurements, microtribology, nanoindentation, white light interferometry, 3D measurement microscopy, and 3D-printing will be used in the course of this research. The results of the project are supposed to be relevant for revealing the biomimetic potential of the arthropod legged locomotor systems and will generally and fundamentally contribute to the understanding of the morphology, anatomy, kinematics, material, mechanical and functional properties of leg joints of arthropods.