The presentation "Ants cushion applied stress by active rearrangements," is at 1:44 p.m. on Tuesday, November 26, 2013 in the David L. Lawrence Convention Center: Room 335. ABSTRACT: http://meetings.aps.org/Meeting/DFD13/Event/204162
Researchers found the rafts actively reorganize their structure, a feat that allows them to more effectively cushion themselves against applied forces, such as the battering of raindrops or the surges of waves.
Here, a fire ant clot is compressed by a petri dish. Note that the ant clot bounces back in a few seconds after the force is taken away.
(Photo Credit: Hu/Georgia Tech)
Researchers found the rafts actively reorganize their structure, a feat that allows them to more effectively cushion themselves against applied forces, such as the battering of raindrops or the surges of waves. Here, one single layer of fire ants is being sheared by note cards. The edges of note cards were sanded to help fire ants to hold onto. The fire ants are constantly moving and their rearrangments allow them to reduce the effect of the applied shear stress.
(Photo Credit: Hu/Georgia Tech)
An ant raft stays on top of the water surface even when it is hardly pressed by a branch -- showing water repellency and buoyancy.
(Photo Credit: Nathon Mlot)
Source: American Physical Society