All Images
News Release 12-016
A Spider Web's Strength Lies in More Than its Silk
Sacrificial beams and stress-dependent materials--concepts of interest to modern engineering--are critical in keeping webs strong
This material is available primarily for archival purposes. Telephone numbers or other contact information may be out of date; please see current contact information at media contacts.
This hierarchical depiction shows how a spider web responds to stress, spanning from the web scale to the scale of protein molecules only nanometers, or billionths of a meter, across. When a force strikes the web, such as that from a trapped fly, the web deforms in distinct ways at multiple scales yet fails only where silk threads are under the most stress. The web manages that feat because of slipping that takes place within the spider-silk protein molecules. The result is compensation for some stress, yet sacrificial failure when stress becomes extreme, preserving the web as a whole.
Credit: Zina Deretsky, National Science Foundation, in collaboration with S. Cranford, G. Bratzel and M.J. Buehler (all three from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Rihcard C. Yu and Andaluz Yu of Green Pacific Biologicals
Download the high-resolution JPG version of the image. (1 MB)
Use your mouse to right-click (Mac users may need to Ctrl-click) the link above and choose the option that will save the file or target to your computer.
Markus Buehler of MIT explains how spider webs survive frequent assaults without failing--and how the silk is only part of the answer.
Credit: National Science Foundation
Images Courtesy of: Zina Deretsky, Nature, Markus Buehler
Animated model of deformation and breaking of a spider web under extreme stresses. The model is based on web-silk behaviors at a scale down to the molecular level.
Credit: S. Cranford and M.J. Buehler/MIT
Animation of vibrations and deformation of a spider web subjected to mechanical forces. The model is based on web-silk behaviors at a scale down to the molecular level.
Credit: S. Cranford and M.J. Buehler/MIT
The top illustration shows a detailed view of the molecular structure of spider silk in its natural state, without mechanical load applied, showing the characteristic composite of a semi-amorphous protein phase (thin, wiggly lines) and beta-sheet nanocrystals (thick yellow lines). The bottom illustration shows a detailed view of the molecular structure of silk under extreme stress, showing how the protein chains unwind under stretch and eventually give way to deformation.
Credit: Credit: M.J. Buehler and G. Bratzel/MIT
Download the high-resolution JPG version of the image. (101 KB)
Use your mouse to right-click (Mac users may need to Ctrl-click) the link above and choose the option that will save the file or target to your computer.
Blueprints of the multi-scale material structure of spider silk, from the molecular to the macroscopic scale.
Credit: S. Cranford and M.J. Buehler/MIT
Download the high-resolution JPG version of the image. (939 KB)
Use your mouse to right-click (Mac users may need to Ctrl-click) the link above and choose the option that will save the file or target to your computer.