Rapid release of stored energy

How is elastic energy stored?

This can be stored as elastic energy and then released at a relevant rate, well-matched with the desired biological functions. Storage of elastic energy, U, is a function of capacity that depends on the strained volume, the elastic modulus (E), and the strain (ɛ).

Is energy release phase dependent?

Release of the stored molecular energy is certainly phase dependent; that is, an energetic molecule isolated in the gas phase, in a thin film of pure material, or dissolved in a solvent, will not explore. True energetic behavior is typically displayed only in crystalline or concentrated solids.

Are internal stresses a strategy for storing energy in bio-inspired materials?

Internal stresses are a widely underestimated strategy for storing energy in biological and bio-inspired materials. The elastic energy density stored in any material is estimated with the following equation: where E and ɛ are the elastic modulus and strain, respectively.

Can elastic energy storage be based on internal strains?

While energy storage is considered one of the most pressing areas of technological development, hardly any research addresses elastic energy storage based on internal strains.

Is chemical energy conversion limited in muscle contraction?

Indeed, chemical energy conversion (as occurring in muscle contraction) is limited by reaction rates that are comparatively limited, and intermediate elastic energy storage in tendons or other elastic materials is advantageous. [108, 109] This is also visible in plant movements, as described in Figure 4.

Why do Sharks release energy?

It has been proposed, for example, that the release of stored energy in the skin of sharks occurs at the point at which muscles are stretched to long lengths and reduced in their capacity to produce force owing to the muscle's length–tension properties (Wainwright et al., 1978).