Abstract
Filiform hairs of crickets are of great interest to engineers because of their highly sensitive response to low velocity air currents. In this study, the cercal sensory system of a common house cricket has been analyzed. The sensory system consists of two antennae like appendages called cerci that are situated at the rear of the cricket’s abdomen. Each cercus is covered with 500–750 flow sensitive hairs that are embedded in a complex viscoelastic socket that acts as a spring -dashpot system and guides the movement of the hair. When the hair deflects due to the drag force induced on its length by a moving air-current, the spiking activity of the neuron and the combined spiking activity of all hairs are extracted by the cercal sensory system. The hair has been experimentally studied by few researchers though its characteristics are not fully understood. The socket structure has not been analyzed experimentally or theoretically from a mechanical standpoint. Therefore, this study aims to understand the socket’s behavior and its interaction with the filiform hair by conducting static analysis. First, a 3D Finite Element Analysis (FEA) model, representing hair and hair-socket, has been developed. Then the static analysis is conducted utilizing the appropriate load and boundary conditions based on the physical conditions that an insect experiences. These numerical analyses aid to understand the deformation mechanism the hair and hair-socket system. The operating principles of the hair and hair-socket could be used for the design of highly responsive MEMS devices such as fluid flow sensors or micro-manipulators.
Copyright © 2014 by ASME
Original language | American English |
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Title of host publication | ASME 2014 International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition |
Volume | 10 - Micro- and Nano-Systems Engineering and Packaging |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Nov 14 2014 |
Event | ASME 2014 International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition, IMECE 2014 - Montreal, Canada Duration: Nov 14 2014 → Nov 20 2014 |
Conference
Conference | ASME 2014 International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition, IMECE 2014 |
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Country/Territory | Canada |
City | Montreal |
Period | 11/14/14 → 11/20/14 |
ASJC Scopus Subject Areas
- Mechanical Engineering
Keywords
- Boundary-value problems
- Currents
- Finite element analysis
- Flow (Dynamics)
- Fluid dynamics
- Manipulators
- Microscale devices
- Numerical analysis
- Shock absorbers
- Springs
Disciplines
- Materials Science and Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering