Biomimicry Design Research Articles

Compression response and optimization design of a novel glass-sponge inspired lattice structure with enhanced energy absorption capacity

Lattice structures have shown tremendous prospects in engineering fields, because of the ultralight, strong and toughness properties. In this paper, a novel configuration of lattice structure (GSIBCC) inspired by the hierarchical skeleton system of glass sponges is proposed. The new configuration of the unit cell is based on modifying the inner cross struts of the body-centered cubic (BCC) lattice, by considering the double diagonal reinforcements and hybridization of unit cells. The compression properties and deformation mechanism of the GSIBCC lattice structure are compared with BCC, OCT (Octet) and other glass sponge inspired lattices. A multi-objective optimization method is established, for maximizing the specific energy absorption (SEA) and simultaneously reducing the compression strength. The novel GSIBCC lattice exhibits superior specific energy absorption than BCC, OCT, and other glass sponge inspired lattices. For example, GSIBCC shows maximum 145.06% improvement (ρ¯=0.124) of SEA with respect to BCC, and maximum 117.4% improvement (ρ¯=0.124) of SEA with respect to OCT. The novel lattice exhibits the whole deformation type and obvious second stress reinforcement effect. Besides, the mechanical properties of GSIBCC are further improved using the multi-objective optimization. The reported biomimicry design strategy, deformation and failure mechanism, and multi-objective optimization method will be beneficial for enriching the lattice system and promoting the multifunctional applications of lattice structures in engineering fields.

건축물의 지속 가능한 친환경 디자인 연구

With the increasing emphasis on the eco-friendly paradigm, the sustainability of office buildings has become more important. This study aims to investigate the design characteristics of eco-friendly buildings and explore efficient eco-friendly design solutions by analyzing cases where biomimicry technology has been applied. Buildings are analyzed using a framework consisting of six aspects: technicality, recyclability, ecology, cultural compatibility, healthiness, and social compatibility. As a result, buildings minimize environmental impact through principles such as natural ventilation, insulation, natural lighting, and recycling, showing positive effects on health and social aspects. Notably, the correlation between technicality and healthiness is high, with the indoor environment emerging as the most critical factor. Biomimicry design is expected to be a crucial solution for innovative and competitive eco-friendly building design. Therefore, it is necessary to address economic issues such as initial investment costs to establish non-standard designs emphasizing ecology. This study aims to present a direction for sustainable building design.

BIOMIMICRY, DARWINISM, AND PRODUCT DESIGN: AN EVOLUTIONARY SYNERGY IN TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION

O avanço em direção a uma sociedade orientada pela inovação destaca o Design de Produtos como um terreno promissor para explorar novas abordagens, conforme destacado por Kumar (2012). Duas perspectivas emergem como influências: a biomimética, que se baseia na inteligente imitação da natureza, e a aplicação de princípios darwinistas, introduzindo uma dinâmica evolutiva no Design. Enquanto a biomimética busca inspiração na diversidade biológica para gerar soluções inovadoras, harmonizando forma e função, a abordagem darwinista enfatiza a competição e a adaptação constantes, espelhando o cenário empresarial contemporâneo. A seleção natural proposta por Darwin encontra paralelos no funcionamento do capitalismo de mercado, onde as organizações mais adaptadas prosperam, enquanto as menos aptas enfrentam dificuldades semelhantes à competição entre espécies na natureza. Economicamente e socialmente, a competição no mercado age como um ambiente de seleção natural, incentivando os designers a aprimorarem continuamente suas criações para sobreviver e prosperar em um ambiente comercial em constante mudança. A biomimética eleva a natureza ao status de mentora do Design, inspirando soluções inovadoras que transcendem a estética, permeando a funcionalidade e a eficiência dos produtos resultantes, enquanto a aplicação de princípios darwinistas ao Design de Produtos traz uma perspectiva evolutiva, onde a competição, seleção natural e adaptação contínua desempenham papéis fundamentais. Essas abordagens coexistem e se entrelaçam em uma dança sinérgica, se enriquecendo mutuamente para gerar soluções inovadoras e adaptáveis, impulsionando a inovação em um ciclo contínuo de evolução no Design de Produtos.

Proposition and design of a new Micro-Architected Domes family: A biomimicry-based approach

In the last decade, micro-architected structures have gained significant attention in academia and industry for their lightweight, strong, and thermally efficient properties. Inspired by biomimicry design, this paper presents a novel ribbed family of additively manufactured Micro-Architected Domes (MAD). The design incorporates tetrapod pyramid unit cells, golden ratio-based fractal patterns, Schoen's Minimal Gyroid, and spherical geometry. The study focuses on dome radius, height, and azimuth/elevation partitioning as input variables, with the main output being ribbed micro-cell diameter. The relationships between unit-cells’ diameter and input variables were established through problem-solving and numerical computations: linear dependency with the dome radius and hyperbolic dependency with the azimuth and elevation partitioning. The proposed design successfully adhered to the Surface-to-Volume ratio of Schoen's Minimal Gyroid, achieving an average volume relative density of 2.5%, confirming its lightweight nature. The feasibility of the design was further supported by fabricating three specimens using Filament Fused Fabrication. This research showcases the potential of biomimicry-inspired micro-architected structures, paving the way for innovative applications in various fields.

Mimosa Kinetic Façade: Bio-Inspired Ventilation Leveraging the Mimosa Pudica Mechanism for Enhanced Indoor Air Quality.

In light of pressing global health concerns, the significance of indoor air quality in densely populated structures has been emphasized. This research introduces the Mimosa kinetic façade, an innovative design inspired by the adaptive responsiveness of the Mimosa plant to environmental stimuli. Traditional static architectural façades often hinder natural ventilation, leading to diminished air quality with potential health and cognitive repercussions. The Mimosa kinetic façade addresses these challenges by enhancing effective airflow and facilitating the removal of airborne contaminants. This study evaluates the façade's impact on quality of life and its aesthetic contribution to architectural beauty, utilizing the biomimicry design spiral for a nature-inspired approach. Computational simulations and physical tests were conducted to assess the ventilation capacities of various façade systems, with a particular focus on settings in Bangkok, Thailand. The study revealed that kinetic façades, especially certain patterns, provided superior ventilation compared to static ones. Some patterns prioritized ventilation, while others optimized human comfort during extended stays. Notably, the most effective patterns of the kinetic façade inspired by the Mimosa demonstrated a high air velocity reaching up to 12 m/s, in contrast to the peak of 2.50 m/s in single-sided façades (traditional façades). This highlights the kinetic façade's potential to rapidly expel airborne particles from indoor spaces, outperforming traditional façades. The findings underscore the potential of specific kinetic façade patterns in enhancing indoor air quality and human comfort, indicating a promising future for kinetic façades in architectural design. This study aims to achieve an optimal balance between indoor air quality and human comfort, although challenges remain in perfecting this equilibrium.

Pendekatan Biomimikri - Ilham Alam Semula Jadi dalam Reka Bentuk Seni Bina

Biomimicry is a growing field of research in architecture and engineering. It is characterized as a flora, fauna or entire ecosystem that is modeled as the basis of design because of its potential to create a more sustainable or regenerative built environment. However, one obstacle that needs to be noted in the application of biomimicry is in terms of the lack of a clear definition of the various biomimicry approaches that can be used by designers. The objectives of the study include analyzing biomimicry and its integration methods in architectural design as well as identifying various biomimicry approaches in architectural design. Through a literature review, this research paper describes different approaches to biomimicry design. A comparison of biomimicry and ecomimicry has been highlighted to discuss the differences in features that aid in design. These diverse approaches can lead to different outcomes in terms of overall sustainability. Next, the biomimicry approach in architectural design that combines the understanding of ecosystems can necessarily be the main pillar to create a built environment in the integration and regeneration of natural ecosystems. From the research, it becomes increasingly clear that a shift in the approach to the designed built environment must be made Imitating life, including the complex interactions between living organisms that make up ecosystems are examples that are easy to find and learn. This approach provides mutual benefits between humans and nature and should be a future agenda.

Biomimicry in STEM Education

Abstract The integration of biomimicry with the biology subject was proposed as a teaching approach that was a productive way to support a group of pre-service teachers to teach STEM. This article focuses on the pre-service teachers’ perceptions of biomimicry, designing, and transformation of the design to teach STEM procedures. The study was set up in the context of a compulsory course during pandemics. A qualitative case study was used. The data were collected and analyzed by using descriptive and inductive thematic analysis. For the findings, the majority of pre-service teachers perceived biomimicry by connecting it to the basic knowledge of evolution theory. Two main approaches of noticeable biomimicry design which were performed by the pre-service teachers consisted of identifying problems to biology, and examining nature to design. This study has implications for educators trying to establish biomimicry activities to support and develop science teachers to take on the challenge in STEM teaching.

Advanced Phase Change Materials from Natural Perspectives: Structural Design and Functional Applications.

Phase change materials have garnered extensive interest in heat harvesting and utilization owing to their high energy storage density and isothermal phase transition. Nevertheless, inherent leakage problems and low heat storage efficiencies hinder their widespread utilization. Nature has served as a great source of inspiration for addressing these challenges. Natural strategies are proposed to achieve advanced thermal energy management systems, and breakthroughs are made in recent years. This review focuses on recent advances in the structural design and functions of phase change materials from a natural perspective. By highlighting the structure-function relationship, advanced applications including human motion, medicine, and intelligent thermal management devices are discussed in detail. Finally, the views on the remaining challenges and future prospects are also provided, that is, phase change materials are advancing around the biomimicry design spiral.

Dear architect, Design for Adaptability! DfAD as a Biomimicry design practice

This article emphasizes Design for Adaptability (DfAD) as a disruptive design alternative on the rise, aiming to comprehend to what extent design strategies from two lenses relate.

Natural materials (biomaterials) and biomimicry principles, as tools for envisioning the sustainable cities of the future

It is widely acknowledged that the impact of human activities on the Earth’s atmosphere following the first industrial revolution was so significant that it was designated as a new geological epoch with the term “Anthropocene.” The search for a new design strategy that integrates the nature of urban landscapes with their architecture is critical in the Anthropocene age. Modern instances of green cities and smart cities are the direct result of the emergence of a value system with a highly aesthetic view of global ecosystems, prompting us to seek a non-anthropocentric method of reasoning and, as a result, planning. In this study, we present innovative city design that controls environmental factors and is based on urban planning of cities approached by the principles of biomimicry. The research question is whether natural materials with modern construction methods and biomimicry principles can lead to the design of cities that face the numerous challenges of climate change. Three examples of cities that have adopted the model of biomimicry design principles will be presented, in parallel with a literature review of natural materials. Conclusions will be drawn which will be followed by the formulation of proposals for the optimal planning of cities in terms of sustainability. The goal is to develop a design process targeted at the efficient design of cities in response to climate change.

Velcro Product Design with Biomimicry Approaches

Nature has experienced so many adjustments throughout its life cycle, such as evolutions, climate change, and natural selection, and it still manages to exist today. Therefore, it will be an excellent example to be imitated into a product or process since it is most likely sustainable and comply human needs. Imitating nature’s process, design, or system is called Biomimicry Approach. In this research, researchers develop a new design for Velcro. Velcro is a fastener that consists of 2 parts: hook and loop. Both parts are made of nylon thread and will be fastened together. Current Velcro products are not durable because of the design and also materials. It can be easily wrinkled and damage the fabric it is glued. This study aims to develop Velcro design to have a sustainable design using the technical steps in each biomimicry design spiral methodology stage. Researchers used Biomimicry Approach to find the best development for the Velcro product and generate a conceptual design for Velcro. The natural model used in the conceptual design was a Lentinula edodes (shitake mushroom). The design assessment indicator used were von mises stress, safety factory, and displacement. The results showed that the development design of Velcro with the Biomimicry Design Spiral Approach was acceptable and safe.

Cultivating Cooperative Relationships: Identifying Learning Gaps When Teaching Students Systems Thinking Biomimicry.

The methodology of biomimicry design thinking is based on and builds upon the overarching patterns that all life abides by. "Cultivating cooperative relationships" within an ecosystem is one such pattern we as humans can learn from to nurture our own mutualistic and symbiotic relationships. While form and process translations from biology to design have proven accessible by students learning biomimicry, the realm of translating biological functions in a systematic approach has proven to be more difficult. This study examines how higher education students can approach the gap that many companies in transition are struggling with today; that of thinking within the closed loops of their own ecosystem, to do good without damaging the system itself. Design students should be able to assess and advise on product design choices within such systems after graduation. We know when tackling a design challenge, teams have difficulties sifting through the mass of information they encounter, and many obstacles are encountered by students and their professional clients when trying to implement systems thinking into their design process. While biomimicry offers guidelines and methodology, there is insufficient research on complex, systems-level problem solving that systems thinking biomimicry requires. This study looks at factors found in course exercises, through student surveys and interviews that helped (novice) professionals initiate systems thinking methods as part of their strategy. The steps found in this research show characteristics from student responses and matching educational steps which enabled them to develop their own approach to challenges in a systems thinking manner. Experiences from the 2022 cohort of the semester "Design with Nature" within the Industrial Design Engineering program at The Hague University of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands have shown that the mixing and matching of connected biological design strategies to understand integrating functions and relationships within a human system is a promising first step.

Reviewing biomimicry design case studies as a solution to sustainable design.

There have been many studies on bio-inspired research, where biomimicry capabilities facilitating sustainable designs are in dearth. For a sustainable design, it is necessary to consider water efficiency, zero waste, thermal environment, and energy supply. This paper investigates how biomimicry is adopted in the sustainable design of buildings. A thorough content analysis of eight case studies focused on the built environment and how biomimicry integrated with the design of a building was executed. The selection of cases study was based on the concept of biomimicry by taking inspiration from nature and applying them in the everyday built environment. Thus, the building designs are more ecologically sustainable than conventional ones, where biomimicry approaches and principles are adopted. The findings suggest that the design of a building can inspire society with new ecological morals, where understanding of biological morphogenesis can inspire design to resolve challenges and essentially help create a healthy environment. Biomimicry harnesses and replicates the principles found in nature to create a built environment that benefits people and other living creatures and safeguards biodiversity. Thus, adopting biomimicry in designing a building will help to develop a culture of active environmental design.

Using biomimicry and bibliometric mapping to guide design and production of artificial coral reefs

Worldwide, artificial reefs are being installed to simultaneously attract recreational divers and protect deteriorating natural reefs. This study uses a bibliometric review of artificial coral reefs to identify five clusters as gate criteria for artificial reef design. These clusters enable the conceptualization and testing of artificial reefs for optimum integration of sociotechnical requirements, biological integrity, and ecological marine health. The five clusters are: (1) applications, solutions, and performance; (2) management, technology, and science; (3) calcification, biomineralization, chemistry, and ocean acidification; (4) coral species survival, mortality, and photosynthesis; and (5) artificial reef development, and coral and fish recruitment. The six biomimicry design stages are: define, biologize, discover, abstract, emulate, and evaluate. The 3D printing and hard corals design attracted a large number of planula larvae and different inhabitant corals, and a high species diversity in the surrounding waters. Practical implications include biomimicry-based means for coral reef restoration and recreational ecosystem services.

Building from the Bottom Up: A Closer Look into the Teaching and Learning of Life's Principles in Biomimicry Design Thinking Courses.

Biomimicry education is grounded in a set of natural design principles common to every known lifeform on Earth. These Life’s Principles (LPs) (cc Biomimicry 3.8), provide guidelines for emulating sustainable strategies that are field-tested over nearly four billion years of evolution. This study evaluates an exercise for teaching LPs to interdisciplinary students at three universities, Arizona State University (ASU) in Phoenix, Arizona (USA), College of Charleston (CofC) in Charleston, South Carolina (USA) and The Hague University of Applied Sciences (THUAS) in The Hague (The Netherlands) during the spring 2021 semester. Students researched examples of both biological organisms and human designs exhibiting the LPs. We gauged the effectiveness of the exercise through a common rubric and a survey to discover ways to improve instruction and student understanding. Increased student success was found to be directly linked to introducing the LPs with illustrative examples, assigning an active search for examples as part of the exercise, and utilizing direct assessment feedback loops. Requiring students to highlight the specific terms of the LP sub-principles in each example is a suggested improvement to the instructions and rubric. An iterative, face-to-face, discussion-based teaching and learning approach helps overcome minor misunderstandings. Reiterating the LPs throughout the semester with opportunities for application will highlight the potential for incorporating LPs into students’ future sustainable design process.

Quasi-static response of horse hoof inspired biomimetic structures

This paper investigates the quasi-static response of structures inspired by the horse hoof wall structure. The horse hoof wall has a laminated structure which was mimicked to develop a composite structure using the biomimicry design spiral approach. Additive manufacturing technique was used to create the laminated structures. The intermediate layers of the laminated structures were filled with resin material in three different layer configurations with variable angles of 60°, 70°, and 90°. The quasi-static response of the biomimetic structures was investigated using a hemispherical indenter. To further understand the influence of filler material, the structures were also examined without filling the intermediate layers. It was found that the flat layer, i.e. 90°, has a better energy absorption capacity than monolithic and other structures. This research will assist in the development of energy absorbing biomimetic structures as well as the selection of appropriate materials to improve the bonding between layers of 3D printed structures, resulting in increased structural strength.

Biomimetic Approaches for Adaptive Building Envelopes: Applications and Design Considerations

In the past decade, the evolution of biomimicry architecture was considered as an important issue for achieving adaptation strategies to cope with the different climatic aspects and to provide thermal comfort inside buildings which suit various environmental conditions. Egypt is one of the countries that faces the problem of using excessive energy to cool buildings due to weak building envelopes especially during the summer season that needs to be solved through biomimicry design approaches. The paper assumes that the role of nature design has a significant influence to promote occupants’ comfort, ensure energy conservation of the building and can be seen as an important contribution to sustainability of the built environment. The paper presents the concept and development of biomimicry architecture and its impact on building envelopes. Then, it analyses different biomimetic design applications in hot arid climates to conclude adaptable design considerations that are flexible and responds to differences in their surrounding context. Finally, the third part concludes a biomimicry design matrix for building envelopes that can act as a road map for adaptive implementations. The scope of the paper is the study and analysis of biomimicry as an important tool for architectural design and sustainable construction focusing on the possibility of applying biomimetic principles for adaptive building envelopes describing their potential for future building design in hot arid regions.

Biomimicry element application in the interior design product development

Introduction. Environmental issues have different social and economic causes. The demand on natural raw materials has led to the disappearance of different animal species, yet human waste is one of the most important elements of global and local pollution. According to the results of the survey, 56% of those surveyed in Latvia have recognised that they prefer to choose those brands that are in favour of a clean environment. Sustainability and environmentally friendly farming are becoming more and more wide spread and topical, so the authors want to explore whether biomimicry used in a product development, increases the opportunities for more sustainable products.
 Aim and tasks. The main aim of this research is to create a framework for using biomimicry to manufacture new interior design products. The interior design project is needed to improve the quality of life in a society. The intention for this research is to help to develop the quality of long-term solutions for the society's daily life in accordance with nature. An interior design, which is created close to natural processes using all possibly available materials and products on the basis of biomimicry methods.
 Results. This article explores the ways in which biomimicry techniques, based on the Design Spiral and Janine Benyus Biomimicry Design Lens Principles of Life, can be combined with the design process of an interior design, thereby to create a framework with the help of which a designer works and creates a sustainable interior design. The interior design is a complex process, it is more than just the location of objects in a room or just a decorative supplement that covers the structure of a building, it is a necessary dimension that actually transforms a simple architectural space into a habitable place with a desired order, stability, and individuality.
 Conclusions. The article proposes a basis for the application of biomimicry in the development of an interior design product. The main difference between an interior design and the methodology of biomimicry is that in an interior design process the main question needs to be biologized from “What do I want to create?” to ”What do I want to achieve with my design?”. Also, in an interior design process there are phases to follow to create a design, like there are phases to create in biomimicry based products or processes. The most important points in the creation of the framework are the milestones at which the process of designing interior design should begin to be biologized. Changing the order of the Design Spiral phases and adjusting it to the designing points of an interior design, a system can be created in which all stages of the Design Spiral are connected with the interior design process.Milestones show the progress of a project where each milestone has the actions or activities to be performed, respectively.

Mapping Biomimicry Design Strategies to Achieving Thermal Regulation Efficiency in Egyptian Hot Environments

Mapping Biomimicry Design Strategies to Achieving Thermal Regulation Efficiency in Egyptian Hot Environments

Mapping biomimicry design strategies to achieving thermal regulation efficiency in Egyptian hot environments

Mapping biomimicry design strategies to achieving thermal regulation efficiency in Egyptian hot environments