Octopus-Inspired Biomimetic Annular Sealing Grooves: Design and Performance Optimization Under Extreme Conditions

This study introduces an innovative annular sealing groove design inspired by the hierarchical structure of octopus suckers, addressing the limitations of conventional seals under extreme conditions in aerospace engineering. Using finite element analysis, eight bionic configurations with varying gro...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Zhipeng Pan, Shijun Xu, Xiang Guan, Zhihong Wang, Zhenghai Qi, Xiangrui Ye, Jianyang Dong, Yongming Yao, Zhengzhi Mu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Biomimetics
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2313-7673/10/5/322
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849327489744109568
author Zhipeng Pan
Shijun Xu
Xiang Guan
Zhihong Wang
Zhenghai Qi
Xiangrui Ye
Jianyang Dong
Yongming Yao
Zhengzhi Mu
author_facet Zhipeng Pan
Shijun Xu
Xiang Guan
Zhihong Wang
Zhenghai Qi
Xiangrui Ye
Jianyang Dong
Yongming Yao
Zhengzhi Mu
author_sort Zhipeng Pan
collection DOAJ
description This study introduces an innovative annular sealing groove design inspired by the hierarchical structure of octopus suckers, addressing the limitations of conventional seals under extreme conditions in aerospace engineering. Using finite element analysis, eight bionic configurations with varying groove parameters (width, depth, number) were systematically evaluated under cryogenic (−196.25 °C) and high-pressure (2 MPa) scenarios. Results show that the optimized bionic6 configuration (seven grooves, 0.4 mm width, 0.4 mm depth) achieved a 21.71% improvement in average von Mises stress compared to the original design, demonstrating enhanced leakage resistance. Parameter interaction analysis revealed groove number as the most significant factor affecting performance, followed by width, while depth showed minimal influence. The hierarchical groove architecture effectively mimicked the multi-level sealing mechanism of octopus suckers, reducing leakage paths and improving adaptability to irregular surfaces. This work bridges biological inspiration and engineering application, providing a scalable solution for extreme environments. The identified optimal parameters lay a theoretical foundation for designing high-performance seals in aerospace, cryogenic storage, and advanced manufacturing.
format Article
id doaj-art-56f85eb870a5441ab8b8b4b7bf7f631d
institution Kabale University
issn 2313-7673
language English
publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Biomimetics
spelling doaj-art-56f85eb870a5441ab8b8b4b7bf7f631d2025-08-20T03:47:52ZengMDPI AGBiomimetics2313-76732025-05-0110532210.3390/biomimetics10050322Octopus-Inspired Biomimetic Annular Sealing Grooves: Design and Performance Optimization Under Extreme ConditionsZhipeng Pan0Shijun Xu1Xiang Guan2Zhihong Wang3Zhenghai Qi4Xiangrui Ye5Jianyang Dong6Yongming Yao7Zhengzhi Mu8School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun 130022, ChinaShanghai Aerospace Equipment Manufacturer Co., Ltd., Shanghai 200245, ChinaSchool of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun 130022, ChinaSchool of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun 130022, ChinaSchool of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun 130022, ChinaSchool of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun 130022, ChinaSchool of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun 130022, ChinaSchool of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun 130022, ChinaKey Laboratory of Bionic Engineering, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun 130022, ChinaThis study introduces an innovative annular sealing groove design inspired by the hierarchical structure of octopus suckers, addressing the limitations of conventional seals under extreme conditions in aerospace engineering. Using finite element analysis, eight bionic configurations with varying groove parameters (width, depth, number) were systematically evaluated under cryogenic (−196.25 °C) and high-pressure (2 MPa) scenarios. Results show that the optimized bionic6 configuration (seven grooves, 0.4 mm width, 0.4 mm depth) achieved a 21.71% improvement in average von Mises stress compared to the original design, demonstrating enhanced leakage resistance. Parameter interaction analysis revealed groove number as the most significant factor affecting performance, followed by width, while depth showed minimal influence. The hierarchical groove architecture effectively mimicked the multi-level sealing mechanism of octopus suckers, reducing leakage paths and improving adaptability to irregular surfaces. This work bridges biological inspiration and engineering application, providing a scalable solution for extreme environments. The identified optimal parameters lay a theoretical foundation for designing high-performance seals in aerospace, cryogenic storage, and advanced manufacturing.https://www.mdpi.com/2313-7673/10/5/322biomimetic sealingoctopus suckerfinite element analysisannular sealing groovehierarchical sealing structure
spellingShingle Zhipeng Pan
Shijun Xu
Xiang Guan
Zhihong Wang
Zhenghai Qi
Xiangrui Ye
Jianyang Dong
Yongming Yao
Zhengzhi Mu
Octopus-Inspired Biomimetic Annular Sealing Grooves: Design and Performance Optimization Under Extreme Conditions
Biomimetics
biomimetic sealing
octopus sucker
finite element analysis
annular sealing groove
hierarchical sealing structure
title Octopus-Inspired Biomimetic Annular Sealing Grooves: Design and Performance Optimization Under Extreme Conditions
title_full Octopus-Inspired Biomimetic Annular Sealing Grooves: Design and Performance Optimization Under Extreme Conditions
title_fullStr Octopus-Inspired Biomimetic Annular Sealing Grooves: Design and Performance Optimization Under Extreme Conditions
title_full_unstemmed Octopus-Inspired Biomimetic Annular Sealing Grooves: Design and Performance Optimization Under Extreme Conditions
title_short Octopus-Inspired Biomimetic Annular Sealing Grooves: Design and Performance Optimization Under Extreme Conditions
title_sort octopus inspired biomimetic annular sealing grooves design and performance optimization under extreme conditions
topic biomimetic sealing
octopus sucker
finite element analysis
annular sealing groove
hierarchical sealing structure
url https://www.mdpi.com/2313-7673/10/5/322
work_keys_str_mv AT zhipengpan octopusinspiredbiomimeticannularsealinggroovesdesignandperformanceoptimizationunderextremeconditions
AT shijunxu octopusinspiredbiomimeticannularsealinggroovesdesignandperformanceoptimizationunderextremeconditions
AT xiangguan octopusinspiredbiomimeticannularsealinggroovesdesignandperformanceoptimizationunderextremeconditions
AT zhihongwang octopusinspiredbiomimeticannularsealinggroovesdesignandperformanceoptimizationunderextremeconditions
AT zhenghaiqi octopusinspiredbiomimeticannularsealinggroovesdesignandperformanceoptimizationunderextremeconditions
AT xiangruiye octopusinspiredbiomimeticannularsealinggroovesdesignandperformanceoptimizationunderextremeconditions
AT jianyangdong octopusinspiredbiomimeticannularsealinggroovesdesignandperformanceoptimizationunderextremeconditions
AT yongmingyao octopusinspiredbiomimeticannularsealinggroovesdesignandperformanceoptimizationunderextremeconditions
AT zhengzhimu octopusinspiredbiomimeticannularsealinggroovesdesignandperformanceoptimizationunderextremeconditions