SUMMARY
Silk cocoons, constructed by silkmoths (Lepidoptera), are protective structural composites. Some cocoons appear to have evolved towards structural and material optimisation in order to sustain impact strikes from predators and hinder parasite ingress. This study investigates the protective properties of silk cocoons with different morphologies by evaluating their impact resistance and damage tolerance. Finite element analysis was used to analyse empirical observations of the quasi-static impact response of the silk cocoons, and to evaluate the separate benefits of the structures and materials through the deformation and damage mechanism. We use design principles from composite engineering in order to understand the structure–property–function relationship of silkworm cocoons. Understanding the highly evolved survival strategies of the organisms building natural cocoons will hopefully lead to inspiration that in turn could lead to improved composite design.
FOOTNOTES
-
AUTHOR CONTRIBUTIONS
F.C. conceived the study, executed the experiments and the data analysis, and wrote the main body of the text. T.H. constructed the cocoon model and performed the FEA simulations. D.P. developed the material models for simulations from experimental data. F.V. provided the biological background for the study and revised the text.
-
COMPETING INTERESTS
No competing interests declared.
-
FUNDING
This work was supported by The Air Force Office of Scientific Research (grant number F49620-03-1-0111 to F.C.), the Intra-European Marie Curie Fellowship for Career Development (project number 234818, to T.H.) and the European Research Council (grant number SP2-GA-2008-233409 to D.P. and F.V.).
- © 2013. Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd
Article navigation
Related articles
Cited by...
More in this TOC section
Similar articles
Other journals from The Company of Biologists
Editorial - The changing of the guard
In his Editorial, Hans Hoppeler announces that he will be stepping down as Editor-in-Chief of JEB in July 2020. He reflects on the history of JEB, why he has enjoyed his tenure as JEB’s Editor-in-Chief and the recent developments in the publishing world.
Editors’ choice – Ontogeny of effective mechanical advantage in eastern cottontail rabbits (Sylvilagus floridanus)
Jesse Young and his team show that young eastern cottontail rabbits have shorter limbs relative to their size than older rabbits. These shorter limbs amplify forces more, allowing the youngsters to accelerate faster during getaways, and thus promote survival.
Motor neurons relay signals from the brain and spinal cord to muscles that perform behaviours. In their Review, Charlotte Barkan and Erik Zornik discuss an additional function of motor neurons: their contribution to the function of pattern-generating circuits.
Gall midge larvae don't have legs, but that doesn't stop them leaping when they need a quick getaway. Sheila Patek and her team show that larvae latch their front ends to their rears and press down on the back half to push off for a spectacular leap. Read their full research article here.
The Peter Baker Fellowship is for post-doctoral scientists interested in marine biology research, especially physiological research. It will provide living and travel expenses (up to £3,000) to spend approximately two months working at the Laboratory of the Marine Biological Association, Plymouth, at any time of the year. Bench fees will be waived and a small sum may be available to assist with research expenses. This fund is held in trust by the Physiological Society, The Company of Biologists and the Marine Biological Association. Application deadline: 31 January 2020.
Journal of Experimental Biology is pleased to announce a new partnership with Publons! This allows reviewers to easily track and verify every review by choosing to add the review to their Publons profile when completing the review submission form. Publons also makes it simple for reviewers to showcase their peer review contributions in a format that can be included in job and funding applications (without breaking reviewer anonymity). Read the official announcement here!
The Company of Biologists provides grants to fund scientific meetings, workshops and conferences in the fields covered by our journals. Typically, meetings with fewer than 100 people may be granted up to £2,000, increasing up to £6,000 for about 400 people. The next deadline to apply is 28 November 2019.
preLights - Vascular Expression of Hemoglobin Alpha in Antarctic Icefish Supports Iron Limitation as Novel Evolutionary Driver
Charlotte Nelson highlights a preprint from Brant Isakson’s lab, who tested whether low iron availability may have influenced speciation in Antarctic icefish of the family Channichthyidae.