Quantifying Nature's Bistability: Simulation of Earwig Fan Folding.

Area of Science:

• Biomimetics and Mechanical Engineering
• Computational Physics and Dynamics

Background:

• Insect wing folding presents complex biomechanical challenges.
• Understanding insect wing folding can inspire novel engineering solutions for deployable structures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a scalable numerical tool for simulating insect hindwing folding dynamics.
• To investigate the influence of elastic tendon properties on wing folding and unfolding.
• To identify parameters for achieving bistability in insect-inspired structures.

Main Methods:

• A Python-based numerical tool utilizing the MuJoCo physics engine.
• Modeling insect hindwing sections as a bar-and-hinge system with elastic tendons.
• Analyzing the mechanical behavior across different scales, from insect wings to engineering applications.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated scalability of the simulation tool for engineering applications.
• Identified specific elastic properties of tendons required for controlled wing folding and unfolding.
• Characterized bistability in fan sections, crucial for deployable structures.

Conclusions:

• The developed numerical tool accurately simulates insect wing folding dynamics.
• Findings provide crucial parameters for designing biomimetic deployable structures inspired by dermapteran hindwings.
• The research facilitates technological transfer from insect biomechanics to engineering applications.