Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
shows this in the way its structure freely yet continuously passes through several
types of load bearing mechanisms. Thereby the system is able to adapt to changing
environmental requirements without the need of changing its materiality.
Hierarchy: This system is featured on two hierarchical levels: a macro-system
of interwoven bending rods that form leaf-like shapes and a meso-scale differ-
entiated cell logic. At both scales the system logic is based upon a Textile Hybrid
system in which pre-stressed membranes stabilised elastically bent rods. Repeating
the macro system on a meso-scale offered the prospect of functional integration
next to additional structural rigidity.
Integration: Even though, factually, the cells of the M1 do not yet serve
additional functions on a physical building level, they could still be seen as
placeholders for integrating such functions into small scale yet structurally rele-
vant parts of the system. Their spatial separation of the two main membrane layers
particularly offers the integration of thermal insulation and sound damping. On
another level, also present in the actual M1 project, they can serve light diffusion.
This Biomimetic approach in the M1 project may show how, even though
abstract in their implementation, design and construction principles found in
nature can complement architectural and engineering design processes. Further
examples of implementation using this approach are given in VDI Guideline 6226
(2014).
12.5 Conclusions
This chapter on bio-inspired, flexible structures introduced a general overview of
elastic building materials and biomimetic abstraction techniques and showed their
promising application in two case study structures.
With the Flectofin
project it was shown how direct abstraction methods may
be used to extract mechanical principles from natural systems to develop novel
technical engineering solutions. This example shows how nature and engineering
differ in problem solving and highlights that the structures and principles identified
in biological concept generators can provide innovative impulses for the devel-
opment of elastic-kinetic structures beyond traditional preconceptions. The anal-
ysis of the anatomy, functional morphology and biomechanics of plants may
thereby be seen as a promising approach for concept generation and optimisation
in the field of architecture, building and construction.
Through the M1 project a more indirect biomimetic approach was shown. Here,
the approach of studying general phenomena found in natural construction prin-
ciples was successfully used to develop new structural solutions.
In general both projects show how working with biomimetics in an interdis-
ciplinary team can help finding novel engineering solutions which are more than
an optimisation of existing typologies, potentially even represent a paradigmatic
change.
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