Golden ratio in venation patterns of dragonfly wings

Lu, Keene; Shen, Samson; Miller, Lisa M.; Huang, Xiaojing

doi:10.1038/s41598-023-34880-8

Golden ratio in venation patterns of dragonfly wings

Journal Article · Mon May 15 00:00:00 EDT 2023 · Scientific Reports

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-34880-8· OSTI ID:1973711

Lu, Keene; Shen, Samson; Miller, Lisa M.; Huang, Xiaojing

Abstract

The vein pattern in insect wings allows this lightweight structure to carry multiple biological functions. Here, an investigation of the angular distribution of the vein struts in dragonfly wings revealed that the golden angle or golden ratio dominates the venation patterns. We find that the golden angle dominates the intervein angles in regions where thin veins and membranes demand strength reinforcement. A golden ratio partition method has thus been developed that explains a set of preferred intervein angles in distorted polygon-shaped venation cells throughout the venation pattern in dragonfly wings. These observations provide new evidence that the wing structure is spatially optimized, by the golden rule in nature, for supporting biomechanical functions of dragonfly wings.

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Research Organization:: Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Upton, NY (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE; USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES). Scientific User Facilities (SUF)

Grant/Contract Number:: SC0012704

OSTI ID:: 1973711

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1989623

Report Number(s):: BNL-224572-2023-JAAM; 7820; PII: 34880

Journal Information:: Scientific Reports, Journal Name: Scientific Reports Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 13; ISSN 2045-2322

Publisher:: Nature Publishing GroupCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United Kingdom

Language:: English

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