Nature Inspried Material Selection

Prerequesites (for this example)

Methodology for Problem (and Solution)

Instructions:

Deliverables:

Background

Nature (Biologically) inspired engineering design uses analogs to natural (biological) systems to develop solutions for engineering problems and can be beneficial for developing sustainable solutions to engineering problems. The innate complexity of natural systems can inspire engineers attempting to create designs involving higher levels of complexity. Several bio-inspired designs have been used in solving problems, such as the imitation of the design of pinecones to design body heat regulating clothes and the design of micro-robots that can walk on water mimicking the basilisk lizard.

Problem Statement

  1. Explore using the internet, youtube, books (there is a huge building full of books on campus!) the world of biological materials and select one material for a detailed study that can act as inspiration in the development of new engineering materials. The material you choose can be from the plant or animal species.
  2. Describe the selected material by addressing its uses in the natural world, its evolution, constituents, characteristics, and unique performance features.
  3. Propose, in detail, an idea(s) to develop a novel, sustainable engineering material solution (i.e., material + application) that is inspired by the biological material you selected.
  4. (Optional) Based on your study of the selected biological material, present a new bio-inspired design concept for a construction material that can help find solutions to existing problems. (Optional)

Future Suggestions

Pose the material problem as a performance requirement - mass per ..., yield stress, ... Then using these requirements find natural materials that are close in performance, then evaluate cost, availability, social-tehnical issues.