Geckos' foot hair structure and their ability to hang from rough surfaces and move quickly

Kunio Takahashi; Jose Oriol Lopez Berengueres; Kenichi J. Obata; Shigeki Saito

doi:10.1016/j.ijadhadh.2005.12.002

Geckos' foot hair structure and their ability to hang from rough surfaces and move quickly

Kunio Takahashi, Jose Oriol Lopez Berengueres, Kenichi J. Obata, Shigeki Saito

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

44 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Geckos generate the necessary adhesion force through their foot hair. The direction of the gecko's foot hair is not perpendicular to its finger surface, giving compliance to the hair. The effect of this compliance on the adhesion force is analysed and expressed theoretically in terms of contact mechanics. We conclude that the compliance of the foot hair is sufficient to generate the large adhesion force necessary for adhesion to rough surfaces, and that the structure of the seta with the spatulae allow the normal adhesion force to be controlled, allowing the gecko to make quick steps.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	639-643
Number of pages	5
Journal	International Journal of Adhesion and Adhesives
Volume	26
Issue number	8
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijadhadh.2005.12.002
Publication status	Published - Dec 2006
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Adhesion
Attachment
Biological adhesion
Compliance
Detachment
Gecko
JKR contact
Mechanism
Stiffness
Surface roughness
Wall-climbing

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Biomaterials
General Chemical Engineering
Polymers and Plastics

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10.1016/j.ijadhadh.2005.12.002

Cite this

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title = "Geckos' foot hair structure and their ability to hang from rough surfaces and move quickly",

abstract = "Geckos generate the necessary adhesion force through their foot hair. The direction of the gecko's foot hair is not perpendicular to its finger surface, giving compliance to the hair. The effect of this compliance on the adhesion force is analysed and expressed theoretically in terms of contact mechanics. We conclude that the compliance of the foot hair is sufficient to generate the large adhesion force necessary for adhesion to rough surfaces, and that the structure of the seta with the spatulae allow the normal adhesion force to be controlled, allowing the gecko to make quick steps.",

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AU - Takahashi, Kunio

AU - Berengueres, Jose Oriol Lopez

AU - Obata, Kenichi J.

AU - Saito, Shigeki

PY - 2006/12

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N2 - Geckos generate the necessary adhesion force through their foot hair. The direction of the gecko's foot hair is not perpendicular to its finger surface, giving compliance to the hair. The effect of this compliance on the adhesion force is analysed and expressed theoretically in terms of contact mechanics. We conclude that the compliance of the foot hair is sufficient to generate the large adhesion force necessary for adhesion to rough surfaces, and that the structure of the seta with the spatulae allow the normal adhesion force to be controlled, allowing the gecko to make quick steps.

AB - Geckos generate the necessary adhesion force through their foot hair. The direction of the gecko's foot hair is not perpendicular to its finger surface, giving compliance to the hair. The effect of this compliance on the adhesion force is analysed and expressed theoretically in terms of contact mechanics. We conclude that the compliance of the foot hair is sufficient to generate the large adhesion force necessary for adhesion to rough surfaces, and that the structure of the seta with the spatulae allow the normal adhesion force to be controlled, allowing the gecko to make quick steps.

KW - Adhesion

KW - Attachment

KW - Biological adhesion

KW - Compliance

KW - Detachment

KW - Gecko

KW - JKR contact

KW - Mechanism

KW - Stiffness

KW - Surface roughness

KW - Wall-climbing

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Geckos' foot hair structure and their ability to hang from rough surfaces and move quickly

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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