Recent advances in bio-inspired geotechnics: From burrowing strategy to underground structures

Abstract

Traditional geotechnical engineering is challenged in terms of sustainability, resilience, reliability and resources availability in the context of climate change and urbanization expansion. Abstracting inspiration from nature and adopting to geotechnical engineering, bio-inspired geotechnics can provide innovative solutions to address these challenges. This paper reviews the underlying mechanics of bio-inspired geotechnical engineering from three perspectives, i.e., bio-inspired burrowing strategies and mechanisms, bio-inspired surfaces with textures and bio-inspired underground structures. The results highlight that the bio-inspired burrowing strategies (i.e., particle removal, chiseling/grabbing-pushing, peristalsis, dual-anchor, pivot burrowing, undulatory propulsion, reciprocating, rotation and root growth) differ in their application scopes and burrowing efficacy, and the auxiliary burrowing, the principle of least impendence, as well as the multi-functional root growth presents promising solutions to burrowing challenges. Bio-inspired textured surfaces exhibit performance enhancement with regard to anisotropic friction, wear resistance and actuator initiation. In bio-inspired underground structures, snakeskin- and root-inspired geotechnical elements provide superior performance due to the frictional anisotropy and branching effects, respectively, and the potential implementation techniques are challenging current geotechnical engineering. Finally, transferring issues, potential research trends and future prospects are presented, and the significance of collaborative engagement of both engineers and scientists for promotion in bio-inspired geotechnics is emphasized.