Skip Navigation

This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by SMEATHERS, J.E.
Right arrow Articles by VINCENT, J.F.V.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow Articles by SMEATHERS, J.E.
Right arrow Articles by VINCENT, J.F.V.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

J. Moll. Stud. (1979), 45, 219-230
© The Malacological Society of London 1979

MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF MUSSEL BYSSUS THREADS

J.E. SMEATHERS and J.F.V. VINCENT

Department of Zoology, The University of Reading Whiteknights, Reading RG6 2AJ


  Abstract

The byssus threads of the common mussel, Mytilus edulis L., have been tested mechanically and the results from the tests related to the ecology of the animal. The threads are mechanically similar to other crystalline polymers such as polyethylene having a modulus of about 108N m–2 and a long relaxation time. Resilience of 60% is similar to tendon; ultimate strain is about five times that of tendon at 0.44. The thread is laid down with a prestrain of 10% and so guys the mussel in position. Calculation shows that a mussel with 50 byssus threads would be able to resist all but severe winter storms

(Received 1 December 1978;
Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USAHome page
Q. Lin, D. Gourdon, C. Sun, N. Holten-Andersen, T. H. Anderson, J. H. Waite, and J. N. Israelachvili
Adhesion mechanisms of the mussel foot proteins mfp-1 and mfp-3
PNAS, March 6, 2007; 104(10): 3782 - 3786.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Biol. Bull.Home page
S. L. Brazee and E. Carrington
Interspecific Comparison of the Mechanical Properties of Mussel Byssus
Biol. Bull., December 1, 2006; 211(3): 263 - 274.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Exp. Biol.Home page
G. M. Moeser and E. Carrington
Seasonal variation in mussel byssal thread mechanics
J. Exp. Biol., May 15, 2006; 209(10): 1996 - 2003.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Geological Society, London, Special PublicationsHome page
P. S. Meadows, A. Meadows, F. J. C. West, P. S. Shand, and M. A. Shaikh
Mussels and mussel beds (Mytilus edulis) as stabilizers of sedimentary environments in the intertidal zone
Geological Society, London, Special Publications, January 1, 1998; 139(1): 331 - 347.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Disclaimer:
Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.