Insect attachment on crystalline bioinspired wax surfaces formed by alkanes of varying chain lengths

• Elena Gorb,
• Sandro Böhm,
• Nadine Jacky,
• Louis-Philippe Maier,
• Kirstin Dening,
• Sasha Pechook,
• Boaz Pokroy and
• Stanislav Gorb

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2014, 5, 1031–1041, doi:10.3762/bjnano.5.116

• Elena Gorb Sandro Bohm Nadine Jacky Louis-Philippe Maier Kirstin Dening Sasha Pechook Boaz Pokroy Stanislav Gorb Department of Functional Morphology and Biomechanics, Zoological Institute, Kiel University, Am Botanischen Garten 9, D-24098 Kiel, Germany Department of Material Science and

Direct observation of microcavitation in underwater adhesion of mushroom-shaped adhesive microstructure

• Lars Heepe,
• Alexander E. Kovalev and
• Stanislav N. Gorb

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2014, 5, 903–909, doi:10.3762/bjnano.5.103

• Lars Heepe Alexander E. Kovalev Stanislav N. Gorb Functional Morphology and Biomechanics, Zoological Institute, Kiel University, Am Botanischen Garten 1-9, 24118 Kiel, Germany 10.3762/bjnano.5.103 Abstract In this work we report on experiments aimed at testing the cavitation hypothesis [Varenberg

Fibrillar adhesion with no clusterisation: Functional significance of material gradient along adhesive setae of insects

• Stanislav N. Gorb and
• Alexander E. Filippov

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2014, 5, 837–845, doi:10.3762/bjnano.5.95

• Stanislav N. Gorb Alexander E. Filippov Department Functional Morphology and Biomechanics, Zoological Institute of the Kiel University, Am Botanischen Garten 1–9, D-24098 Kiel, Germany Donetsk Institute for Physics and Engineering, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Donetsk, Ukraine 10.3762

Hairy suckers: the surface microstructure and its possible functional significance in the Octopus vulgaris sucker

• Francesca Tramacere,
• Esther Appel,
• Barbara Mazzolai and
• Stanislav N. Gorb

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2014, 5, 561–565, doi:10.3762/bjnano.5.66

• Francesca Tramacere Esther Appel Barbara Mazzolai Stanislav N. Gorb Center for Micro-BioRobotics, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, viale Rinaldo Piaggio 34, Pontedera 56025, Italy Functional Morphology and Biomechanics, Zoological Institute, Kiel University, Am Botanischen Garten 1–9, Kiel 24098

• cohesive forces of the water (grey arrows) and the adhesion force exerted by hairs (black arrows). Acknowledgements The authors thank Joachim Oesert (Zoological Institute: Functional Morphology and Biomechanics, Kiel University) for his skilful technical assistance at the SEM facility. This work was

Friction behavior of a microstructured polymer surface inspired by snake skin

• Martina J. Baum,
• Lars Heepe and
• Stanislav N. Gorb

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2014, 5, 83–97, doi:10.3762/bjnano.5.8

• Martina J. Baum Lars Heepe Stanislav N. Gorb Functional Morphology and Biomechanics, Zoological Institute, Kiel University, Am Botanischen Garten 1–9, Kiel 24098, Germany 10.3762/bjnano.5.8 Abstract The aim of this study was to understand the influence of microstructures found on ventral scales

The effect of surface anisotropy in the slippery zone of Nepenthes alata pitchers on beetle attachment

• Elena V. Gorb and
• Stanislav N. Gorb

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2011, 2, 302–310, doi:10.3762/bjnano.2.35

• Elena V. Gorb Stanislav N. Gorb Department of Functional Morphology and Biomechanics, Zoological Institute, University of Kiel, Am Botanischen Garten 1–9, D-24098 Kiel, Germany 10.3762/bjnano.2.35 Abstract The slippery zone in pitchers of the carnivorous plant Nepenthes alata bears scattered

• joint project within the DFG priority program SPP 1420, whose members include the Department of Functional Morphology and Biomechanics at the University of Kiel and the Institute for Chemistry at the University of Osnabrück, the hierarchical structure of the slippery zone is currently being analysed at

• and its adjoining sides). White arrowheads indicate direction to the pitcher bottom. Scale bars = 20 μm. [B: courtesy of M. Benz (Department of Functional Morphology and Biomechanics, Zoological Institute, Christian Albrecht University of Kiel, Germany).] SEM micrographs of the distal part of the

Moisture harvesting and water transport through specialized micro-structures on the integument of lizards

• Philipp Comanns,
• Christian Effertz,
• Florian Hischen,
• Konrad Staudt,
• Wolfgang Böhme and
• Werner Baumgartner

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2011, 2, 204–214, doi:10.3762/bjnano.2.24

• water ingestion takes place [4][8]. Apart from the biological relevance, the exact functional morphology of lizard integumental structures allowing for moisture harvesting might also be of technical interest wherever efficient collection of small amounts of liquids and/or passive transport of these

Functional morphology, biomechanics and biomimetic potential of stem–branch connections in Dracaena reflexa and Freycinetia insignis

• Tom Masselter,
• Sandra Eckert and
• Thomas Speck

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2011, 2, 173–185, doi:10.3762/bjnano.2.21

• in arborescent monocotyledons. For a better and quantitative understanding of the functional morphology of branch–stem-junctions in arborescent monocotyledons, we investigated the two species Dracaena reflexa and Freycinetia insignis. While D. reflexa is able to develop large arborescent forms with

• determination of the maximal force, stress and strain at rupture as well as the fracture toughness. Functional morphology was correlated with the mechanical behaviour of these plants and compared to data of other dicotyledonous trees. The high energy absorption found in the rupture process of lateral branches

• leading to fracture are avoided. Some of the fibrous bundles run from the main stem into the lateral branches [2]. Apart from that, very little is known about their anatomy. The arrangement and course of the fibrous bundles in branch–stem-junctions of arborescent monocotyledons and the functional

Superhydrophobic surfaces of the water bug Notonecta glauca: a model for friction reduction and air retention

• Petra Ditsche-Kuru,
• Erik S. Schneider,
• Jan-Erik Melskotte,
• Martin Brede,
• Alfred Leder and
• Wilhelm Barthlott

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2011, 2, 137–144, doi:10.3762/bjnano.2.17

• Petra Ditsche-Kuru Erik S. Schneider Jan-Erik Melskotte Martin Brede Alfred Leder Wilhelm Barthlott Nees Institute for Biodiversity of Plants, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms University of Bonn, Meckenheimer Allee 170, Bonn, 53115, Germany Department of Zoology: Functional Morphology and

• retaining superhydrophobic surfaces in the past were primarily examined in the context of their respiratory function [16][17][18][19][20][21], while some recent publications deal more with their functional morphology and their suitability for technical application [11][22][23][24]. For biomimetic

Review of "Contact Mechanics and Friction: Physical Principles and Applications" by Valentin L. Popov

• Stanislav N. Gorb

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2011, 2, 57–58, doi:10.3762/bjnano.2.7

• Stanislav N. Gorb Department of Functional Morphology and Biomechanics, Zoological Institute at the University of Kiel, Am Botanischen Garten 1–9, D-24098 Kiel, Germany 10.3762/bjnano.2.7 Keywords: adhesion; capillarity; contact mechanics; continuum mechanics; friction; lubrication; materials