Spider dynamics under vertical vibration and its implications for biological vibration sensing

Spider dynamics under vertical vibration and its implications for biological vibration sensing

Wu, Jun (University of Oxford)
Miller, Thomas E. (University of Oxford)
Cicirello, A. (TU Delft Mechanics and Physics of Structures; University of Oxford)
Mortimer, Beth (University of Oxford)

2023

Often overlooked, vibration transmission through the entire body of an animal is an important factor in understanding vibration sensing in animals. To investigate the role of dynamic properties and vibration transmission through the body, we used a modal test and lumped parameter modelling for a spider. The modal test used laser vibrometry data on a tarantula, and revealed five modes of the spider in the frequency range of 20-200 Hz. Our developed and calibrated model took into account the bounce, pitch and roll of the spider body and bounce of all the eight legs. We then performed a parametric study using this calibrated model, varying factors such as mass, inertia, leg stiffness, damping, angle and span to study what effect they had on vibration transmission. The results support that some biomechanical parameters can act as physical constraints on vibration sensing. But also, that the spider may actively control some biomechanical parameters to change the signal intensity it can sense. Furthermore, our analysis shows that the parameter changes in front and back legs have a greater influence on whole system dynamics, so may be of particular importance for active control mechanisms to facilitate biological sensing functions.

dynamics
modal test
modelling
spiders
vibration sensing

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:09ee05b9-4e42-4d8f-8d44-c4b3d925ef09

https://doi.org/10.1098/rsif.2023.0365

1742-5689

Journal of the Royal Society Interface, 20 (206), 1-15

Institutional Repository

journal article

© 2023 Jun Wu, Thomas E. Miller, A. Cicirello, Beth Mortimer