As one of the key components in power amplification of locust, semi-lunar process (SLP) cuticle has five different portions where its portion II stores a large amount of strain energy when locusts kick. The SLP portion II is composed of regular chitin micro-strips that non-uniformly arranged in its transverse plane. However, it is still unknown whether the natural arrangement of micro-strips affects the power amplification of the SLP cuticle. To address this, SLP portion II samples of adult locusts were mechanically tested along three orthogonal directions, corresponding to the length, width, and thickness axes of the micro-strips, respectively. Four different arrangements of micro-strips in the portion II were compared using finite element method. It was found that the micro-strip set of the portion II is orthotropic elastic and its elastic modulus is maximal in the length axis of the micro-strip. The inclusion of the micro-strips offers more strain energy than the isotropic portion II (without micro-strips). Compared to the horizontally- and vertically-arrangements of the micro-strips, their natural arrangement does not affect the strain energy but reduces the in-plane shear strain in the portion II. This research helps us deeply understand the power amplification mechanism of locusts and may guide optimization of catapult device design in bioinspired robots.

作为蝗虫功率放大的关键组成部分之一，半月龄表皮（SLP）的表皮有五个不同的部分，当蝗虫被踢时，它的II部分储存了大量的应变能。SLP II部分由规则的几丁质微带组成，这些微带在其横向平面中分布不均匀。然而，仍然不知道微带的自然排列是否会影响SLP角质层的功率放大。为了解决这个问题，对成年蝗虫的SLP II部分样品沿三个正交方向进行了机械测试，分别对应于微带的长度，宽度和厚度轴。使用有限元方法比较了II部分中微带的四种不同排列方式。发现部分II的微带组是正交各向异性弹性，并且其弹性模量在微带的长度轴上最大。与各向同性部分II（无微带）相比，包含微带可提供更多的应变能。与微带的水平和垂直排列相比，它们的自然排列不会影响应变能，但会减小II部分的面内剪切应变。这项研究有助于我们深入了解蝗虫的功率放大机制，并可能指导生物启发机器人中弹射器设备设计的优化。与微带的水平和垂直排列相比，它们的自然排列不会影响应变能，但会减小II部分的面内剪切应变。这项研究有助于我们深入了解蝗虫的功率放大机制，并可能指导生物启发机器人中弹射器设备设计的优化。与微带的水平和垂直排列相比，它们的自然排列不会影响应变能，但会减小II部分的面内剪切应变。这项研究有助于我们深入了解蝗虫的功率放大机制，并可能指导生物启发机器人中弹射器设备设计的优化。