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

节肢动物腿部关节是一种复杂的生物装置，是其腿部运动系统的重要组成部分。关节将腿的节段相互连接，提供节间的可移动性，并确保动作的稳定性和准确性。该研究项目重点研究昆虫、蜈蚣、陆生蟹和蜘蛛的腿部关节。这项研究的目的是将节肢动物的腿部关节描述和表现为一种生物装置。为了实现这一目标，对腿部关节进行了以下目标：1.描述结构元素的主要形态设计和插入；2.检查结构元素的运动并将关节表示为运动副；3.研究关节角质层的材料特性；4.用有限元方法研究关节的力学性能；5.研究关节的减摩机理。研究过程中将使用微型计算机X射线层析成像、光学、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、三维测量显微镜和三维打印等方法。该项目的结果被认为与揭示节肢动物腿部运动系统的仿生潜力有关，并将总体上和根本上有助于理解节肢动物腿部关节的形态、解剖学、运动学、材料、机械和功能特性。

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.