Feather evolution from knotted barbules to hooked and unhooked barbules and its finite element analysis

• The process of the knotted barbules forming barbules through evolutionary. • A growth model of feather plume was proposed. • Metlab 2D contour microstructure of sectioned section of knotted feather. • Three-dimensional structural models of barbules were established. • Finite element stress analysis. Experiments involving scanning electron microscopy of the microstructure of barbules and optical microscopy of knotted barbules were conducted:...