The Adaptive Power of Ammophila arenaria: Biomimetic Study, Systematic Observation, Parametric Design and Experimental Tests with Bimetal.

Tarciana Andrade,Cristina Cruz,José Beirão,Amilton Arruda

doi:10.3390/polym13152554

Abstract

The aim of our study was to apply a biomimetic approach, inspired by the Ammophila arenaria. This organism possesses a reversible leaf opening and closing mechanism that responds to water and salt stress (hydronastic movement). We adopted a problem-based biomimetic methodology in three stages: (i) two observation studies; (ii) how to abstract and develop a parametric model to simulate the leaf movement; and (iii) experiments with bimetal, a smart material that curls up when heated. We added creases to the bimetal active layer in analogy to the position of bulliform cells. These cells determine the leaf-closing pattern. The experiments demonstrated that creases influence and can change the direction of the bimetal natural movement. Thus, it is possible to replicate the Ammophila arenaria leaf-rolling mechanism in response to temperature variation and solar radiation in the bimetal. In future works, we will be able to propose responsive facade solutions based on these results.

Highlights

This work aims to analyze the adaptive response of Ammophila arenaria (A. arenaria) leaves through the problem-based biomimetic methodology [4,13,14,15]
We developed the algorithm parametric leaf-blade system in analogy to A. arenaria’s leaf movement with the intent of designing self-shading modules for adaptive and responsive facades
We believed the creases applied on the surface could influence the movement pattern of the shape-changing smart materials, such as the bimetal. This will be analyzed and demonstrated experimentally. Another point we identified from the analysis was that to close the leaf, the ends of the Ammophila arenaria’s cross-section coincide with the leaf ends

Summary

Introduction

Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. There are different nomenclatures to designate human activities concerning nature as biomimetic, bionic, and biomimicry [1,2,3]. Schmitt created the term biomimetic in the 1960s. In doing so he intended to distinguish knowledge from biophysics and highlight nature’s potential for innovation [3]

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion