The Role of Adaptive-Deformation of Water Strider Leg in Its Walking on Water

Authors: Zheng, Quan-Shui¹; Yu, Yang²; Feng, Xi-Qiao³

Source: Journal of Adhesion Science and Technology, Volume 23, Number 3, 2009 , pp. 493-501(9)

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Abstract:

A recent experiment (X. F. Gao and L. Jiang, Nature 432, 36 (2004)) showed that a water strider statically standing on water can bear a load up to 60 times its body weight with its middle and hind legs, which tread deep puddles without piercing the water surface. This fact has been ascribed to the superhydrophobicity of the water strider legs. In the present paper, this viewpoint is argued by our comparative experiments using real water strider legs with superhydrophobicity and artificial legs made of wax-coated steel wires with a much smaller Young's contact angle. It is found that the adaptive-deformation capacity of the real leg through its three joints makes a more important contribution to the superior load-bearing ability than the superhydrophobicity. This conclusion is also demonstrated by our theoretical analysis.

Keywords: WATER STRIDER LEG; SUPER LOAD-BEARING CAPABILITY; SUPERHYDROPHOBICITY; ADAPTIVE-DEFORMATION; EXPLICIT MODEL

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/156856108X379155

Affiliations: 1: FML, Department of Engineering Mechanics, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Monash University, VIC 3800, Australia;, Email: zhengqs@tsinghua.edu.cn 2: FML, Department of Engineering Mechanics, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Monash University, VIC 3800, Australia 3: FML, Department of Engineering Mechanics, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China

Publication date: 2009-02-01