Mark Ilton
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View article: Bottlebrush Networks: A Primer for Advanced Architectures
Bottlebrush Networks: A Primer for Advanced Architectures Open
Bottlebrush networks (BBNs) are an exciting new class of materials with interesting physical properties derived from their unique architecture. While great strides have been made in our fundamental understanding of bottlebrush polymers and…
View article: Tuning a mechanical model to biological reality: A case study in the LaMSA system of the trap-jaw ant<i>Strumigenys</i>
Tuning a mechanical model to biological reality: A case study in the LaMSA system of the trap-jaw ant<i>Strumigenys</i> Open
Understanding the relationship between morphology and movement in biomechanical systems, particularly those composed of multiple complex elements, presents challenges due to the nonlinear nature of the interaction between components. This …
View article: Viscoelastic materials are most energy efficient when loaded and unloaded at equal rates
Viscoelastic materials are most energy efficient when loaded and unloaded at equal rates Open
Biological springs can be used in nature for energy conservation and ultra-fast motion. The loading and unloading rates of elastic materials can play an important role in determining how the properties of these springs affect movements. We…
View article: Viscoelastic materials are most energy efficient when loaded and unloaded at equal rates
Viscoelastic materials are most energy efficient when loaded and unloaded at equal rates Open
Biological springs can be used in nature for energy conservation and ultra-fast motion. The loading and unloading rates of elastic materials can play an important role in determining how the properties of these springs affect movements. We…
View article: The Impact of Polymerization Chemistry on the Mechanical Properties of Poly(dimethylsiloxane) Bottlebrush Elastomers
The Impact of Polymerization Chemistry on the Mechanical Properties of Poly(dimethylsiloxane) Bottlebrush Elastomers Open
We compare the low-strain mechanical properties of bottlebrush elastomers (BBEs) synthesized using ring-opening metathesis and free radical polymerization. Through comparison of experimentally measured elastic moduli and those predicted by…
View article: A Tunable, Simplified Model for Biological Latch Mediated Spring Actuated Systems
A Tunable, Simplified Model for Biological Latch Mediated Spring Actuated Systems Open
Synopsis We develop a model of latch-mediated spring actuated (LaMSA) systems relevant to comparative biomechanics and bioinspired design. The model contains five components: two motors (muscles), a spring, a latch, and a load mass. One mo…
View article: The ultrafast snap of a finger is mediated by skin friction
The ultrafast snap of a finger is mediated by skin friction Open
The snap of a finger has been used as a form of communication and music for millennia across human cultures. However, a systematic analysis of the dynamics of this rapid motion has not yet been performed. Using high-speed imaging and force…
View article: The ultrafast snap of a finger is mediated by skin friction
The ultrafast snap of a finger is mediated by skin friction Open
The snap of a finger has been used as a form of communication and music for millennia across human cultures. However, a systematic analysis of the dynamics of this rapid motion has not yet been performed. Using high-speed imaging and force…
View article: Supporting Information document from The ultrafast snap of a finger is mediated by skin friction
Supporting Information document from The ultrafast snap of a finger is mediated by skin friction Open
Supporting figures and extended mathematical model.
View article: A Tunable, Simplified Model for Biological Latch Mediated Spring Actuated Systems
A Tunable, Simplified Model for Biological Latch Mediated Spring Actuated Systems Open
We develop a model of latch-mediated spring actuated (LaMSA) systems relevant to comparative biomechanics and bioinspired design. The model contains five components: two motors (muscles), a spring, a latch, and a load mass. One motor loads…
View article: Latch-based control of energy output in spring actuated systems
Latch-based control of energy output in spring actuated systems Open
The inherent force–velocity trade-off of muscles and motors can be overcome by instead loading and releasing energy in springs to power extreme movements. A key component of this paradigm is the latch that mediates the release of spring en…
View article: Why do Large Animals Never Actuate Their Jumps with Latch-Mediated Springs? Because They can Jump Higher Without Them
Why do Large Animals Never Actuate Their Jumps with Latch-Mediated Springs? Because They can Jump Higher Without Them Open
As animals get smaller, their ability to generate usable work from muscle contraction is decreased by the muscle’s force–velocity properties, thereby reducing their effective jump height. Very small animals use a spring-actuated system, wh…
View article: Beyond power amplification: latch-mediated spring actuation is an emerging framework for the study of diverse elastic systems
Beyond power amplification: latch-mediated spring actuation is an emerging framework for the study of diverse elastic systems Open
Rapid biological movements, such as the extraordinary strikes of mantis shrimp and accelerations of jumping insects, have captivated generations of scientists and engineers. These organisms store energy in elastic structures (e.g. springs)…
View article: The effect of size-scale on the kinematics of elastic energy release
The effect of size-scale on the kinematics of elastic energy release Open
The size-scaling of elastically-driven motion is determined using a material that efficiently cycles mechanical energy. The scaling is consistent with the performance of organisms and engineered devices which utilize elastic elements to po…
View article: The principles of cascading power limits in small, fast biological and engineered systems
The principles of cascading power limits in small, fast biological and engineered systems Open
Hop, skip, jump, or massive leap In biological and engineered systems, an inherent trade-off exists between the force and velocity that can be delivered by a muscle, spring, or combination of the two. However, one can amplify the maximum t…
View article: Size-scaling limits of impulsive elastic energy release from a resilin-like elastomer
Size-scaling limits of impulsive elastic energy release from a resilin-like elastomer Open
Elastically-driven motion has been used as a strategy to achieve high speeds in small organisms and engineered micro-robotic devices. We examine the size-scaling relations determining the limit of elastic energy release from elastomer band…
View article: Direct Measurement of the Critical Pore Size in a Model Membrane
Direct Measurement of the Critical Pore Size in a Model Membrane Open
We study pore nucleation in a model membrane system, a freestanding polymer film. Nucleated pores smaller than a critical size close, while pores larger than the critical size grow. Holes of varying size were purposefully prepared in liqui…
View article: Capillary Leveling of Freestanding Liquid Nanofilms
Capillary Leveling of Freestanding Liquid Nanofilms Open
We report on the capillary-driven leveling of a topographical perturbation at the surface of a freestanding liquid nanofilm. The width of a stepped surface profile is found to evolve as the square root of time. The hydrodynamic model is in…