According to foreign media reports, woodpeckers will quickly and repeatedly peck at trees when foraging. What is surprising is that its brain can withstand repeated shocks. At present, the latest research by scientists from Dalian University of Technology in China has revealed the mystery.
Although woodpeckers repeatedly pecking at trees at high speeds, they can still avoid brain damage. Due to the unique structure of the skull and beak, it can reduce the impact on the brain. Scientists at Dalian University of Technology in China have discovered that 99% of the collision energy is stored in the woodpecker as strain energy.
Experts are very interested in how woodpeckers protect their brains when they pecking and produce body shocks. Its special shock-proof body structure can be used to make a new generation of spacecraft, cars, and protective clothing.
Engineers discovered that the woodpecker's body is like an excellent shock-proof structure that can absorb the energy generated when the body collides. The frequency of pecking trees can reach 25 Hz, but there is no damage to the brain. Each time a woodpecker pecks a tree is equivalent to a human head hitting a wall at a speed of 25 kilometers per hour.
In this study, scientists created a 3D computer model of a woodpecker and used a program to understand how its shock-proof body structure disperses the impact energy. Dr. Chengwei Wu (transliteration) and the research team performed CT scans of woodpeckers and built a 3D computer model. They explained that based on CT scanning technology, we obtain detailed image information of the internal structure of the woodpecker's head, and then input it into the Mimics software system to form a scattered point model.
More software programs are used to refine this geometric model. It can test how collision energy is dispersed by the woodpecker's special body structure. They pointed out that 99.7% of collision energy is transformed into strain energy and stored in the woodpecker body, only 0.3% of collision energy Energy acts on the head. Bird's beak and hyoid bone can effectively reduce the strain energy formed by the brain. A small amount of collision energy enters the central area of the brain and will eventually be dissipated in the form of heat, causing the brain to heat up quickly. This is why woodpeckers must peck at trees intermittently and take short breaks.
Currently, this latest research report can be used to design some anti-vibration facilities, such as a new generation of spacecraft, automobiles, and protective clothing. Dr. Wu Chengwei said: “High-speed collisions and impacts can destroy equipment structures and materials. In the field of aerospace manufacturing, spacecraft will face potential collision hazards. Space debris and micro meteors are both sources of danger. If spacecraft or scientific equipment collide This will cause huge economic losses."
In addition, car collisions pose a serious threat to the personal safety of car drivers and often lead to head injuries. Therefore, there is an urgent need for a unique car shockproof material to effectively reduce personal injuries caused by car collisions.