Diabolical Ironclad Beetle: Unlocking the secrets of its super-tough design

The diabolical ironclad beetle is so tough, it can survive getting run over by a car applying ~100 newtons of force. Engineers from Purdue University and UC-Irvine teamed up to unlock the beetle’s secrets. Their research, featured in a paper published in Nature, revealed that the beetle’s super-toughness lies in its two armorlike “elytron” that meet at a line, called a suture, running the length of the abdomen. Full story: Featured Purdue Engineer: Pablo Zavattieri, Jerry M. and Lynda T. Engelhardt Professor in the Lyles School of Civil Engineering Video credits: CT scans, electric microscopy, and compression test video by Rivera, Kisailus Biomimetics and Nanostructured Materials Lab, University of California, Irvine 3D models and computer simulations by Maryam Sadat Hosseini, PhD student, Lyles School of Civil Engineering Dung Beetle Flying: via Drive South Africa Music: “Am-Trans“ by Podington Bear via Creative Commons (CC BY-NC 3.0) from SUBSCRIBE TO PURDUE ENGINEERING: Subscribe to our channel: For the latest news, visit: Like us on Facebook: Follow us on Twitter: Heart us on Instagram: Contact: Erin Easterling, Digital Producer at purdueengineeringvideo@ Known as the “Cradle of Astronauts,” Purdue University’s College of Engineering’s long list of pioneers includes Neil Armstrong and Amelia Earhart. Purdue Engineering is among the largest in the United States and includes 13 academic programs and ranked Top 10 nationwide by U.S. News and World Report. #purdue #purdueengineering #ironcladbeetle