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Elastic Rotor Bearings from Resilin?
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October 17th 05, 05:24 AM
Orval Fairbairn
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Elastic Rotor Bearings from Resilin?
In article . com,
wrote:
Researchers have managed to decipher the formula for making the insect
protein resilin:
http://www.theengineer.co.uk/Article...Flea+power.htm
Resilin is reputed to give fleas their great jumping power, as well as
wing-flapping ability in flies and mosquitoes, among other things.
How well would resilin's superior elastic properties scale up for much
larger flying machines?
As an example, what about the idea of using resilin in making elastic
rotor bearings for simplified rotorheads on helicopter-gyroplanes?
Would it be useful or worthwhile to use resilin for this high-end
application?
Could resilin be used in inflatable structures for balloons or blimps?
Or even inflatable wings? What about parachutes?
Comments?
We would need more information on:
1. tensile and compression strength
2. elasticity of the material
3. Effects in (1) and (2) due to aging and ultraviolet exposure
4. Effects of heat and potential solvents on the material.
I am sure that there are other considerations, but the above are basics.
Orval Fairbairn