There is an interesting example of attachment due to replication of surface profile. An important attachment-related property of living tissues is its growth ability. Growing plant tissues can exactly replicate a surface profile by growing into surface depressions. The living tissues, after filling up the surface profile, become hard by thickening of the cell wall. Such a mechanism is difficult to define as either purely adhesive or frictional since, after hardening, the plant interface resembles a mechanical grip firmly attached to the surface. To some extent this is analogous to the glue principle. By using such a mechanism some lianas can climb up and spread over other plants and rocks (Figure 8.89).
Surface-Replicating Mechanism Based on Growth
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