Building principles and structural design of sea urchins: examples of bio-inspired constructions
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Tobias B. Grun
Abstract
In the course of evolution, sea urchins have adapted to a wide range of habitats in the ocean. Particularly conspicuous are the developments in the construction of their skeletons, which feature specific adaptations to their ambient environmental conditions. The sea urchin shells thus have developed many different charakteristics in order to withstand currents, storm events, and predatory attacks, for example. These shells also reveal some very fundamental building principles, which can serve as inspiration for the development of innovative technical constructions. The main focus is on the development of better-performing shell structures, which would be a means of achieving greater resource efficiency and architectural esthetics.
Abstract
In the course of evolution, sea urchins have adapted to a wide range of habitats in the ocean. Particularly conspicuous are the developments in the construction of their skeletons, which feature specific adaptations to their ambient environmental conditions. The sea urchin shells thus have developed many different charakteristics in order to withstand currents, storm events, and predatory attacks, for example. These shells also reveal some very fundamental building principles, which can serve as inspiration for the development of innovative technical constructions. The main focus is on the development of better-performing shell structures, which would be a means of achieving greater resource efficiency and architectural esthetics.
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter 1
- Contents 5
- Preface 6
- Why biomimetics? 8
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Everything Moves
- Introduction 12
- Plants In Action 14
- Movement Without Joints: (How) Does It Work? 22
- No Joint Ailments: How Plants Move And Inspire Technology 32
- From Pure Research To Biomimetic Products: The Flectofold Facade Shading Device 42
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Lightweight Versatility: Structure Instead Of Mass
- Introduction 52
- Reliably Withstanding High Loads 54
- Freezing: The Right Way 74
- Nature As Source Of Ideas For Modern Manufacturing Methods 84
- Rosenstein Pavilion: a lightweight concrete shell based on principles of biological structures 92
-
Elegance And Lightness: Bio-Inspired Domes
- Introduction 102
- Building principles and structural design of sea urchins: examples of bio-inspired constructions 104
- Potential applications of segmented shells in architecture 116
- Snails as living 3D printers: free forms for the architecture of tomorrow 126
- Evolutive approaches to explorative design methods in architecture 134
-
Branched Load Support Systems
- Introduction 142
- From plant branchings to technical support structures 144
- New branched loadbearing structures in architecture 153
- The plastid skeleton: a source of ideas in the nano range 163
- Abstracting instead of copying: in search of the formula for success 167
- Functionalist, organic, and biomimetic architecture 172
- The biomimetic promise 180
- Appendix 188
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter 1
- Contents 5
- Preface 6
- Why biomimetics? 8
-
Everything Moves
- Introduction 12
- Plants In Action 14
- Movement Without Joints: (How) Does It Work? 22
- No Joint Ailments: How Plants Move And Inspire Technology 32
- From Pure Research To Biomimetic Products: The Flectofold Facade Shading Device 42
-
Lightweight Versatility: Structure Instead Of Mass
- Introduction 52
- Reliably Withstanding High Loads 54
- Freezing: The Right Way 74
- Nature As Source Of Ideas For Modern Manufacturing Methods 84
- Rosenstein Pavilion: a lightweight concrete shell based on principles of biological structures 92
-
Elegance And Lightness: Bio-Inspired Domes
- Introduction 102
- Building principles and structural design of sea urchins: examples of bio-inspired constructions 104
- Potential applications of segmented shells in architecture 116
- Snails as living 3D printers: free forms for the architecture of tomorrow 126
- Evolutive approaches to explorative design methods in architecture 134
-
Branched Load Support Systems
- Introduction 142
- From plant branchings to technical support structures 144
- New branched loadbearing structures in architecture 153
- The plastid skeleton: a source of ideas in the nano range 163
- Abstracting instead of copying: in search of the formula for success 167
- Functionalist, organic, and biomimetic architecture 172
- The biomimetic promise 180
- Appendix 188
