Bio-inspiration from the Issus Nymph gear − strength analysis

Planthoppers are champion jumpers. Adult specimens are propelled by rapid movements of the hind legs, which can launch them a horizontal distance of 1.1 m with a take-off speed of 5.5 m/s, demonstrating high power output. The planthopper Issus Coleoptratus nymph achieves the precise synchronization...

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Main Authors: Guilbert Bérengère, Winger Marie, Cavoret Jérôme, Sutton Gregory, Johnston Richard, Ville Fabrice
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: EDP Sciences 2025-01-01
Series:Mechanics & Industry
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Online Access:https://www.mechanics-industry.org/articles/meca/full_html/2025/01/mi240051/mi240051.html
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author Guilbert Bérengère
Winger Marie
Cavoret Jérôme
Sutton Gregory
Johnston Richard
Ville Fabrice
author_facet Guilbert Bérengère
Winger Marie
Cavoret Jérôme
Sutton Gregory
Johnston Richard
Ville Fabrice
author_sort Guilbert Bérengère
collection DOAJ
description Planthoppers are champion jumpers. Adult specimens are propelled by rapid movements of the hind legs, which can launch them a horizontal distance of 1.1 m with a take-off speed of 5.5 m/s, demonstrating high power output. The planthopper Issus Coleoptratus nymph achieves the precise synchronization required (30 μs) thanks to a pair of cuticular gears that kinematically link the hind legs. These cuticular gears show spectacular geometrical differences from conventional man-made mechanisms. We analysed the gear teeth of Issus Coleoptratus in combination with Micro-CT scans of the teeth to study the gearing properties. The results show that the Issus gear has a higher contact ratio than conventional man-made involute spur gears. If the Issus gear is rescaled to a tooth size equivalent to a conventional gear module of 4.5mm, an ISO standard involute gear can mesh, with no problem, with the Issus gears. In simulations, if the resized gear is subjected to the load borne by a conventional automotive gear made of steel, the maximum stress obtained for the Issus gear is higher on the tooth flank than for the conventional gear. This is a potentially interesting result, as one of the disadvantages of the ISO gear is that failure generally occurs at the root of the tooth due to stress concentration, leading to gear failure. Finally, a strength analysis is carried out with the application of the real load transmitted by the gear during a badly engaged jump showing that, thanks to its gear high contact ratio, it is possible for the Issus to compensate for any problems arising from a non-symmetrical jump, and therefore to perform a synchronized jump in any poorly engaged situation.
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spelling doaj-art-c99368e0cdf445aa90e856e2d06aabf62025-08-20T02:09:27ZengEDP SciencesMechanics & Industry2257-77772257-77502025-01-01261410.1051/meca/2025005mi240051Bio-inspiration from the Issus Nymph gear − strength analysisGuilbert Bérengère0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1535-6360Winger Marie1Cavoret Jérôme2Sutton Gregory3Johnston Richard4https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1977-6418Ville Fabrice5https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9743-8820INSA Lyon, CNRS, LaMCoS, UMR5259INSA Lyon, CNRS, LaMCoS, UMR5259INSA Lyon, CNRS, LaMCoS, UMR5259University of LincolnUniversity of SwanseaINSA Lyon, CNRS, LaMCoS, UMR5259Planthoppers are champion jumpers. Adult specimens are propelled by rapid movements of the hind legs, which can launch them a horizontal distance of 1.1 m with a take-off speed of 5.5 m/s, demonstrating high power output. The planthopper Issus Coleoptratus nymph achieves the precise synchronization required (30 μs) thanks to a pair of cuticular gears that kinematically link the hind legs. These cuticular gears show spectacular geometrical differences from conventional man-made mechanisms. We analysed the gear teeth of Issus Coleoptratus in combination with Micro-CT scans of the teeth to study the gearing properties. The results show that the Issus gear has a higher contact ratio than conventional man-made involute spur gears. If the Issus gear is rescaled to a tooth size equivalent to a conventional gear module of 4.5mm, an ISO standard involute gear can mesh, with no problem, with the Issus gears. In simulations, if the resized gear is subjected to the load borne by a conventional automotive gear made of steel, the maximum stress obtained for the Issus gear is higher on the tooth flank than for the conventional gear. This is a potentially interesting result, as one of the disadvantages of the ISO gear is that failure generally occurs at the root of the tooth due to stress concentration, leading to gear failure. Finally, a strength analysis is carried out with the application of the real load transmitted by the gear during a badly engaged jump showing that, thanks to its gear high contact ratio, it is possible for the Issus to compensate for any problems arising from a non-symmetrical jump, and therefore to perform a synchronized jump in any poorly engaged situation.https://www.mechanics-industry.org/articles/meca/full_html/2025/01/mi240051/mi240051.htmlbio-inspirationgear optimizationreverse-engineeringfe strength calculation
spellingShingle Guilbert Bérengère
Winger Marie
Cavoret Jérôme
Sutton Gregory
Johnston Richard
Ville Fabrice
Bio-inspiration from the Issus Nymph gear − strength analysis
Mechanics & Industry
bio-inspiration
gear optimization
reverse-engineering
fe strength calculation
title Bio-inspiration from the Issus Nymph gear − strength analysis
title_full Bio-inspiration from the Issus Nymph gear − strength analysis
title_fullStr Bio-inspiration from the Issus Nymph gear − strength analysis
title_full_unstemmed Bio-inspiration from the Issus Nymph gear − strength analysis
title_short Bio-inspiration from the Issus Nymph gear − strength analysis
title_sort bio inspiration from the issus nymph gear strength analysis
topic bio-inspiration
gear optimization
reverse-engineering
fe strength calculation
url https://www.mechanics-industry.org/articles/meca/full_html/2025/01/mi240051/mi240051.html
work_keys_str_mv AT guilbertberengere bioinspirationfromtheissusnymphgearstrengthanalysis
AT wingermarie bioinspirationfromtheissusnymphgearstrengthanalysis
AT cavoretjerome bioinspirationfromtheissusnymphgearstrengthanalysis
AT suttongregory bioinspirationfromtheissusnymphgearstrengthanalysis
AT johnstonrichard bioinspirationfromtheissusnymphgearstrengthanalysis
AT villefabrice bioinspirationfromtheissusnymphgearstrengthanalysis