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Biomimetics

Terminology
The term 'biomimetic' is an artificial combination of the words 'biology' and 'mimikry' meaning 'imitating biology'. However, the biomimetic concept by no means tries to copy biological structures, but aims to understand them and aims to transfer this knowledge into technical, architectural, or design applications.
Variations of 'biomimetics' exists, but differ fundamentally. 'Bioinspired' products, for example, use biological structures as inspiration, but do not necessarily involve any analytical or transfer methods imperative for biomimetic research.

Biological Background
Organisms evolved over long periods of times adapting to their biotic and abiotic environment. Based on ecological constrains such as e.g. predation, energy-level of the environment, and genetic heritage, organisms developed certain morphological structures and behavioral patterns.

Technical Background
State-of-the-art analytical techniques such as high-resolution micro-computed tomography, scanning electron microscopy in combination with cutting-edge engineering tools such as finite-element- and computational fluid dynamic simulations allow in-detail analyses of biological structures.

Examination targetsPath from a biological struture, to structural analyses using finite-element methods, to the interpretation of structural behavior and integration in the system.

Biomimetics
This highly interdisciniplinary field, unites the strands of biology, paleontology and enginering sciences with the aim to identify biological solutions to technical problems. This, however, is not a one-way road: by understanding biological structures, their integration into the organism and the environemnt, as well as its evolutionary path, we not only can develope technical systems, but also learn why organisms developed certain morphologies, and which factors potentially caused an evolutionary response.

Biomimetic Concept
Biomimetic research follows a strict pattern: (1) identifying biological structures with technical relevance, (2) analyzing this structure, (3) identifying the working-principle behind the actual structure, (4) abstracting and integrating the working-principle into a technical applicaion, and (5) fabrication the technical structure. Technical structures can be generally implemented in engineering sciences, architecture, and design.


Biomimetic path from the role-model, analyses, abstraction, to fabrication and structural interpretation.

Echinoids and Biomimetics
Echinoids are valuable role-models for engineering sciences, architecture, and design. This is mostly due to the fact the echinoids are constructed by multiple hundreds of single plates. These plates are interconnected to one another often by both skeletal elements and organic matter. In addition, echinoids can be technically considered as double-curved, multi-element structures which, in some cases, behave as monolithic units. From an biological and paleontological perspective, echinoids evolved over the course of millions of years. Highly adapted forms, such as clypeasteroids, are often and abundantly found in the fossil sedimentary record. These fossil occurences all over the world and from various environmental settings inherently proof that these structures are stable shell constructions.


Flowchart of overlaps between biology, paleontology and engineering interests.

Biomimetic Products

Transregio/Sonderforschungsbereich 141 (DFG)

Universität Stuttgart, Institute for Building Structures and Structural Design

Universität Stuttgart, Institute for Building Structures and Structural Desig

Universität Stuttgart, Institute for Computational Desigand Construction

Universität Stuttgart, Institute for Computational Desigand Construction

Universität Stuttgart, Institute for Computational Desigand Construction

Universität Stuttgart, Institute for Computational Desigand Construction

 

Predation
 

Predation is a major biotic interaction by which the predator can leave recognizable traces in the skeletal hard parts of the prey item. By tracking predatory patterns and behavior through time, shifts of these parameters are used to interpret evolutionary pathways.

Functional morphology

Functional morphology describes the adaptation of organisms to their environment. These adaptations are often the result of pressure such as biotic interactions and abiotic influences. Engineering techniques, such as structural mechanics are used to understand structural adaptations.

Taphonomy
 

Taphonomy examines the alteration of organisms and their remains after the death of an individual, as well as alterations of biotic traces. Understanding taphonomic patterns, signals and filters are used to interpret ancient environments based on biotic remains and traces recovered from the fossil sedimentary record.

Computational analytics

Computational analytics promote calculations of large data sets and their visualization. Especiallt analyses and visualizations of 3d models are useful methods to understand the integration of structures.

Biomimetics
 

Biomimetics

Biomimetics is an integrative approach combining biology and engineering sciences. Evolved biological structures often provide solutions for today's technical challenges. Finding principles in organisms that improve or lead to the development of new technical systems is the aim of biomimetics.

Virtual reality
 

Virtual reality provides a platform that allows the analyses and presentation of 3d data in an 360° immersive environment.