Biomechanical properties of tetragnatha javana spider silk in fieldconditions
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Date
2023
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UMT, Lhr
Abstract
This study delves into the biomechanical properties of Tetragnatha javana spider silk under real- world conditions, surpassing controlled lab environments. Investigating its strength, flexibility, and lightweight nature, the research explores dynamic interactions with environmental elements like humidity, temperature, and natural substrates. Expeditions in diverse climates, from rainforests to deserts, assess spider silk versatility. Orb webs from Tetragnatha javana spiders were collected, and advanced methods, including tensile testing and atomic force microscopy, measured silk properties. Environmental stressors like wind, rain, and UV exposure were analyzed for their impact on silk structural soundness. Results highlight the pivotal role of radial silk in preserving web stability, particularly against flying prey impacts or wind-induced vibrations. Spider silk displays consistent biomechanical traits across variousfield circumstances, demonstrating durability and adaptability. Mean elastic modulus and hardness of radial and spiral silk threads were examined, revealing their dynamic mechanical behavior with a positive correlation to frequency. Radial silk exhibited elastic behavior, while spiral silk demonstrated viscous behavior. Humidity significantly influenced both silk threads, with increased relative humidity decreasing their elastic modulus and hardness. Laser vibrometer analysis measured the damping ratio of radial and spiral silk threads, revealing the notable flexibility and damping of spiral silk. This flexibility enables efficient prey capture, dissipating high kinetic energy throughout the web. Understanding silk behavior in varying frequency and humidity conditions provides insights for creating biomimetic materials tailored for specific applications. The study's findings suggest promising applications of spider silk in biomimetic materials for industries like textiles, medicine, and construction, capitalizing on its unique combination of flexibility and toughness. Keywords: Orb web, Tetragnatha javana, tensile strength, Extensibility, toughness and other Biomechanical properties, Radial and spiral silk thread.