Structural Biomimetic Integration in the Formation of Load-Bearing Skins

Abstract

Biomimicry(from bios, meaning life, and mimesis, meaning to imitate) is the study of natural forms, systems and processes in nature in order to find more effective and sustainable ways to design and engineer products, buildings and service systems. The way how natural systems operate can be applied to architecture to lessen its environmental impact and to increase its efficiency.

Looking at natural structures where it integrates structural efficiency and material optimization to serve their functions, unlike architectural engineering that has traditionally been characterized by the sequential development of ‘form, structure and material’ separately from one another. Compared to nature, our own material strategies appear to be less effective, and mostly wasteful. Where nature utilizes a variety of forms and design methods in its constructions to ensure maximization in terms of structural efficiency while minimizing the required input of material. In nature; the hierarchical sequence in classical architecture ‘form–structure–material’ is inverted bottom-up where the external environment exerts stresses on the developing object and its resulting form is a product of its response to the environment and the limits of the structural properties of the material used.

This thesis discusses the biomimetic inspiration ability to convert the ordinary architectural structures to bio-inspired structures that integrates the structure and material to produce final efficient form. A load-bearing skin will be studied with the above criteria through the study of human bones (Femur Bone) as an inspiration model from both perspectives:

• Bone Modelling (Wolff's Law). • Femur Bone Mechanical Properties.

Keywords: Biomimicry - Structural Skins - Optimization - Femur Bone.

Biomimicry(from bios, meaning life, and mimesis, meaning to imitate) is the study of natural forms, systems and processes in nature in order to find more effective and sustainable ways to design and engineer products, buildings and service systems. The way how natural systems operate can be applied to architecture to lessen its environmental impact and to increase its efficiency.

Looking at natural structures where it integrates structural efficiency and material optimization to serve their functions, unlike architectural engineering that has traditionally been characterized by the sequential development of ‘form, structure and material’ separately from one another. Compared to nature, our own material strategies appear to be less effective, and mostly wasteful. Where nature utilizes a variety of forms and design methods in its constructions to ensure maximization in terms of structural efficiency while minimizing the required input of material. In nature; the hierarchical sequence in classical architecture ‘form–structure–material’ is inverted bottom-up where the external environment exerts stresses on the developing object and its resulting form is a product of its response to the environment and the limits of the structural properties of the material used.

This thesis discusses the biomimetic inspiration ability to convert the ordinary architectural structures to bio-inspired structures that integrates the structure and material to produce final efficient form. A load-bearing skin will be studied with the above criteria through the study of human bones (Femur Bone) as an inspiration model from both perspectives:

• Bone Modelling (Wolff's Law). • Femur Bone Mechanical Properties.

Keywords: Biomimicry - Structural Skins - Optimization - Femur Bone.