| EPSRC Reference: |
GR/R17324/01 |
| Title: |
The Functional Ecology & Mechanical Design of Hooks In Nature |
| Principal Investigator: |
Parker, Professor A |
| Other Investigators: |
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| Researcher Co-Investigators: |
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| Project Partners: |
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| Department: |
Zoology |
| Organisation: |
University of Oxford |
| Scheme: |
Standard Research (Pre-FEC) |
| Starts: |
12 March 2001 |
Ends: |
11 March 2004 |
Value (£): |
67,481
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| EPSRC Research Topic Classifications: |
| Development (Biosciences) |
Materials testing & eng. |
| Population Ecology |
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| EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications: |
| Aerospace, Defence and Marine |
Manufacturing |
| Retail |
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| Related Grants: |
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| Panel History: |
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Summary on Grant Application Form |
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Currently, the only comprehensive examination of hooks in nature resulted in a demonstration of diversity of design. We aim to describe the range of hooks in nature in terms of their specific function and mechanical properties. We plan to investigate if and why certain designs of hooks found in animals and plants are well-adapted in terms of their mechanical properties and relationship with their attachment sites (substrates). We propose to use this information to demonstrate the potential applications of nature's hooks in commerce and defence. We plan to examine two examples of nature's hooks in exceptional detail, where slight differences in hook design can be attributed to differences in their substrates. These two examples have been selected, following preliminary investigations, because they occur in different media (air and water) and have very different functional requirements, thus providing excellent contrast. Additionally they have known biomimetic potential.
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Key Findings |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Potential use in non-academic contexts |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Impacts |
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| Description |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk |
| Summary |
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| Date Materialised |
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Sectors submitted by the Researcher |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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| Project URL: |
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| Further Information: |
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| Organisation Website: |
http://www.ox.ac.uk |