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- Title
Burrowing mechanics: Burrow extension by crack propagation.
- Authors
Dorgan, Kelly M.; Jumars, Peter A.; Johnson, Bruce; Boudreau, B. P.; Landis, Eric
- Abstract
Until now, the analysis of burrowing mechanics has neglected the mechanical properties of impeding, muddy, cohesive sediments, which behave like elastic solids. Here we show that burrowers can progress through such sediments by using a mechanically efficient, previously unsuspected mechanism-crack propagation-in which an alternating‘anchor’system of burrowing serves as a wedge to extend the crack-shaped burrow. The force required to propagate cracks through sediment in this way is relatively small: we find that the force exerted by the annelid worm Nereis virens in making and moving into such a burrow amounts to less than one-tenth of the force it needs to use against rigid aquarium walls.
- Subjects
MECHANICS (Physics); ELASTIC solids; CONTINUUM mechanics; SOLID state physics; AQUARIUMS; NEREIS
- Publication
Nature, 2005, Vol 433, Issue 7025, p475
- ISSN
0028-0836
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1038/433475a