Meeting Abstract
The foreleg palettes of male diving beetles, Dytiscidae, have been studied for their ability to generate attachment forces up to four times their body weight through an array of attachment features on the protarsal palette that include two large suction-cup-like setae (0.2 to 1mm) and hundreds of smaller setae (20 to 50 µm). Though previous measurements indicate that most of the attachment strength is attributed to by the large setae, it has been suggested that the smaller setae improve attachment to rough surfaces. In this work, structural analyses of both the large and small, suction-based setae are presented. These analyses include the nanometer scale interfacial morphology, particularly on small setae. In addition, local mechanical properties are measured to inform a numerical attachment model. Results are used to support the design of engineered patterned surfaces with unique adhesion properties.
