WingGram
Extensive research on insect wing biomechanics has faced challenges in directly measuring the mechanics of delicate wing specimens, particularly in museums. Consequently, the finite element method has gained popularity due to its suitability for studying wing biomechanics. However, developing accurate wing models has been time-consuming and error-prone, often resulting in oversimplified representations. To overcome these limitations, a new tool called WingGram has been created. This computer vision application can quickly and precisely model insect wings by detecting their boundaries and cells from 2D images. WingGram allows for the inclusion of complex features such as venations, corrugations, and camber in the wing models. It can also extract geometric information like wing dimensions, subdomains, and vein junction locations. By providing researchers with a simple way to model wings of various forms, shapes, and sizes, WingGram facilitates the study of insect wing morphology and biomechanics. Furthermore, as an open-access resource, WingGram has the potential to broaden the analysis of insect wings and similar structures in other fields such as aerospace, benefiting scientists, educators, and industry professionals.
User Inteface
Home
The software interface includes a "Home" tab, which allows users to import wing images. WingGram supports various image formats, such as non-vectorized *.tif, *.jpg, and *.png, and does not require extremely high resolution or binary images. There are no limitations on the size or resolution of the imported image. The position, orientation, and angle of the wing in the image do not affect the usability of the software. WingGram works best when venation patterns are clear and may not be ideal for analyzing and modeling wings with dark spots or strong pigments.
Assign Corrugation
WingGram Generates 3D corrugated Finite Element models of insect wings. A very detailed description of this tool can be found in the manuscript.
Morphology
Via this tab the user can extract geometric features of insect wing such as the place of wing junctions and the area, length, width of the wing cells.
Generate Model and Figures
We have included four options for developing a planar model without corrugations within the software. The last option is specifically designed to handle cases where corrugations are present.
Two-/multi-section, three-dimensional shell: These models are suitable for applying out-of-plane loadings, such as uniform pressure, impact, out-of-plane point force, and displacement.
Two-/multi-section, two-dimensional planar: These models are suitable for applying in-plane loadings, such as shear, tensile, or compressive loading.
Users can view figures relevant to their selected option by switching between radio buttons. The "Skeletonised Image" button allows users to hide the presence of junctions, while the "Extracted Boundaries" button enables users to indicate the presence of the "Main Domain," "Sub-Domains," "Discontinuities," and "Junctions" by selectively turning off corresponding checkboxes.