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Tribology Letters
Published in: Tribology Letters 2/2014

01-05-2014 | Original Paper

Anisotropic Friction of the Ventral Scales in the Snake Lampropeltis getula californiae

Authors: Martina J. Baum, Alexander E. Kovalev, Jan Michels, Stanislav N. Gorb

Published in: Tribology Letters | Issue 2/2014

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Abstract

Since the ventral body side of snakes is in almost continuous contact with the substrate during undulating locomotion, their skin is presumably adapted to generate high friction for propulsion and low friction to slide along the substrate. In this study, the microstructure of ventral scales was analyzed using scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscope and confocal laser scanning microscopy. Dynamic friction was investigated by a microtribometer. The ventral scales demonstrated anisotropic frictional properties. To analyze the role of the stiffness of underlying layers on the frictional anisotropy, two different types of scale cushioning (hard and soft) were tested. To estimate frictional forces of the skin surface on rough substrates, additional measurements with a rough surface were performed. Frictional anisotropy for both types of scale cushioning and rough surfaces was revealed. However, for both types of surface roughness, the anisotropy was stronger expressed in the soft-cushioned sample. This effect could be caused by (1) the stronger interaction of the microstructure with the substrate in soft-cushioned samples due to larger real contact area with the substrate and (2) the composite character of the skin of this snake species with embedded, highly ordered fiber-like structures, which may cause anisotropy in material properties.
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Metadata
Title
Anisotropic Friction of the Ventral Scales in the Snake Lampropeltis getula californiae
Authors
Martina J. Baum
Alexander E. Kovalev
Jan Michels
Stanislav N. Gorb
Publication date
01-05-2014
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Tribology Letters / Issue 2/2014
Print ISSN: 1023-8883
Electronic ISSN: 1573-2711
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11249-014-0319-y

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