Snake fangs : 3D morphological and mechanical analysis by microCT, simulation, and physical compression testing
Date
2018
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Oxford University Press
Abstract
This Data Note provides data from an experimental campaign to analyse the detailed internal and external morphology
and mechanical properties of venomous snake fangs. The aim of the experimental campaign was to investigate the
evolutionary development of 3 fang phenotypes and investigate their mechanical behaviour. The study involved the use of
load simulations to compare maximum Von Mises stress values when a load is applied to the tip of the fang. The
conclusions of this study have been published elsewhere, but in this data note we extend the analysis, providing
morphological comparisons including details such as curvature comparisons, thickness, etc. Physical compression results
of individual fangs, though reported in the original paper, were also extended here by calculating the effective elastic
modulus of the entire snake fang structure including internal cavities for the first time. This elastic modulus of the entire
fang is significantly lower than the locally measured values previously reported from indentation experiments, highlighting
the possibility that the elastic modulus is higher on the surface than in the rest of the material. The micro–computed
tomography (microCT) data are presented both in image stacks and in the form of STL files, which simplifies the handling
of the data and allows its re-use for future morphological studies. These fangs might also serve as bio-inspiration for future
hypodermic needles.
Description
CITATION: Du Plessis, A., Broeckhoven, C. & Le Roux, S. G. 2017. Snake fangs : 3D morphological and mechanical analysis by microCT, simulation, and physical compression testing. GigaScience, 7(1):1–8, doi:10.1093/gigascience/gix126.
The original publication is available at https://academic.oup.com/gigascience
Publication of this article was funded by the Stellenbosch University Open Access Fund.
The original publication is available at https://academic.oup.com/gigascience
Publication of this article was funded by the Stellenbosch University Open Access Fund.
Keywords
Venomous snakes
Citation
Du Plessis, A., Broeckhoven, C. & Le Roux, S. G. 2017. Snake fangs : 3D morphological and mechanical analysis by microCT, simulation, and physical compression testing. GigaScience, 7(1):1–8, doi:10.1093/gigascience/gix126