Simple Model for the Mechanics of Spider Webs

Aoyanagi, Yuko; Okumura, Ko

doi:10.1103/physrevlett.104.038102

Cited by 76 publications

(47 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…Moreover, localized tearing becomes increasingly likely in strong wind if webs are under excessive tension. Accordingly, radii tension might be loosened or fewer radial threads used when webs are exposed to wind (Lin et al, 1995;Aoyanagi and Okumura, 2010;Cranford et al, 2012). We found that C. mulmeinensis used fewer radii, although we did not directly measure radii tension herein.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 65%

Wind induces variations in spider web geometry and sticky spiral droplet volume

Blamires

et al. 2013

Journal of Experimental Biology

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SUMMARYTrap building by animals is rare because it comes at a substantial cost. Using materials with properties that vary across environments maintains trap functionality. The sticky spiral silks of spider orb webs are used to catch flying prey. Web geometry, accompanied by compensatory changes in silk properties, may change across environments to sustain web functionality. We exposed the spider Cyclosa mulmeinensis to wind to test whether wind-induced changes in web geometry are accompanied by changes in aggregate silk droplet morphology, axial thread width or spiral stickiness. We compared: (i) web catching area, (ii) length of total silks, (iii) mesh height, (iv) number of radii, (v) aggregate droplet morphology and (vi) spiral thread stickiness, between webs made by spiders exposed to wind and those made by spiders not exposed to wind. We interpreted co-variation in droplet morphology or spiral stickiness with web capture area, mesh height or spiral length as the silk properties functionally compensating for changes in web geometry to reduce wind drag. Wind-exposed C. mulmeinensis built webs with smaller capture areas, shorter capture spiral lengths and more widely spaced capture spirals, resulting in the expenditure of less silk. Individuals that were exposed to wind also deposited larger droplets of sticky silk but the stickiness of the spiral threads remained unchanged. The larger droplets may be a product of a greater investment in water, or low molecular weight compounds facilitating atmospheric water uptake. Either way, droplet dehydration in wind is likely to be minimized.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 65%

Wind induces variations in spider web geometry and sticky spiral droplet volume

Blamires

et al. 2013

Journal of Experimental Biology

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“…Many authors have studied the structural features of the orb web under quasistatic [5,6,[17][18][19] or dynamic loading conditions [16,[20][21][22]. A specific feature of the spider webs, which requires a dynamic analysis, is related to the aerodynamic resistance.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Uncovering changes in spider orb-web topology owing to aerodynamic effects

Zaera

Soler

Teus

2014

J. R. Soc. Interface.

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An orb-weaving spider's likelihood of survival is influenced by its ability to retain prey with minimum damage to its web and at the lowest manufacturing cost. This set of requirements has forced the spider silk to evolve towards extreme strength and ductility to a degree that is rare among materials. Previous studies reveal that the performance of the web upon impact may not be based on the mechanical properties of silk alone, aerodynamic drag could play a role in the dissipation of the prey's energy. Here, we present a thorough analysis of the effect of the aerodynamic drag on wind load and prey impact. The hypothesis considered by previous authors for the evaluation of the drag force per unit length of thread has been revisited according to well-established principles of fluid mechanics, highlighting the functional dependence on thread diameter that was formerly ignored. Theoretical analysis and finite-element simulations permitted us to identify air drag as a relevant factor in reducing deterioration of the orb web, and to reveal how the spider can take greater-and not negligible-advantage of drag dissipation. The study shows the beneficial air drag effects of building smaller and less dense webs under wind load, and larger and denser webs under prey impact loads. In essence, it points out why the aerodynamics need to be considered as an additional driving force in the evolution of silk threads and orb webs.

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“…Mechanical modelling provides a valuable methodology to study the structural performance of orb webs in detail and has been deployed to uncover specific aspects of web behaviour under a variety of quasi-static [28][29][30][31][32] and dynamic [33][34][35][36][37] loading conditions. However, the potential of mechanical modelling for the study of wave propagation in webs has been largely unexploited.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tuning the instrument: sonic properties in the spider's web

Mortimer

Soler

Siviour

et al. 2016

J. R. Soc. Interface.

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Spider orb webs are multifunctional, acting to absorb prey impact energy and transmit vibratory information to the spider. This paper explores the links between silk material properties, propagation of vibrations within webs and the ability of the spider to control and balance web function. Combining experimental and modelling approaches, we contrast transverse and longitudinal wave propagation in the web. It emerged that both transverse and longitudinal wave amplitude in the web can be adjusted through changes in web tension and dragline silk stiffness, i.e. properties that can be controlled by the spider. In particular, we propose that dragline silk supercontraction may have evolved as a control mechanism for these multifunctional fibres. The various degrees of active influence on web engineering reveals the extraordinary ability of spiders to shape the physical properties of their self-made materials and architectures to affect biological functionality, balancing trade-offs between structural and sensory functions.

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Simple Model for the Mechanics of Spider Webs

Cited by 76 publications

References 25 publications

Wind induces variations in spider web geometry and sticky spiral droplet volume

Wind induces variations in spider web geometry and sticky spiral droplet volume

Uncovering changes in spider orb-web topology owing to aerodynamic effects

Tuning the instrument: sonic properties in the spider's web

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