Layla Koohi

Zusammenfassung

Concrete double-curved shell constructions have been used in architectural design and building constructions since the beginning of the twentieth century. Although monolithic shells show a high stiffness as their geometry transfers loads through membrane forces, they have been mostly replaced by the more cost-efficient lattice systems. As lattice systems are covered by planar glass or metal panes, they neither reach the structural efficiency of monolithic shells, nor is their architectural elegance reflected in a continuous curvature. The shells of sand dollars’ – highly adapted sea urchins – combine a modular and multi-plated shell with a flexible, curved as well as smooth design of a monolithic construction. The single elements of the sand dollars’ skeleton are connected by calcite protrusions and can be additionally supported by organic fibres. The structural efficiency of the sea urchin’s skeleton and the principles behind them can be used for innovations in engineering sciences and architectural design while, at the same time, they can be used to illustrate the biological adaptations of these ecologically important animals within their environments. The structure of the sand dollar’s shell is investigated using modern as well as established imaging techniques such as x-ray micro-computed tomography (µCT), scanning electron microscopy and various optical imaging techniques. 3D models generated by µCT scans are the basis for Finite Element Analysis of the sand dollar’s shell to identify possible structural principles and to analyse their structural behaviour. The gained insights of the sand dollar’s mechanical properties can then be used for improving the state-of-the-art techniques of engineering sciences and architectural design.

Zusammenfassung

We present ideas and concepts towards defining a common framework unifying abstract metrics in order to quantify key features of technical load-bearing structures and biological systems. Our aim is to transfer biological concepts to technical systems at this abstract level rather than on the basis of their outward appearance or actual functionality. This means that the biological concept generators for load-bearing structures do not have to be load-bearing structures themselves but may instead achieve rather different functionalities. We intend to carry out this transference by generalizing graph-based abstractions of both technical and biological worlds to allow comparisons to be made at an abstract level. We focus in particular on the intrinsically competing aims of optimality versus multi-functionality and robustness. In this review, we present initial attempts towards defining suitable quantitative measures for robustness to serve as a common ground for studying technical systems and biological systems simultaneously. We discuss generic properties of a ubiquitous signalling network motif and potential relationships to a minimal model for a robust truss structure. These case studies suggest that topological complexity can serve as a common source for a design that is insensitive to perturbations and thus robust in the measures of both worlds.

Zusammenfassung

We present ideas and concepts towards defining a common framework unifying abstract metrics in order to quantify key features of technical load-bearing structures and biological systems. Our aim is to transfer biological concepts to technical systems at this abstract level rather than on the basis of their outward appearance or actual functionality. This means that the biological concept generators for load-bearing structures do not have to be load-bearing structures themselves but may instead achieve rather different functionalities. We intend to carry out this transference by generalizing graph-based abstractions of both technical and biological worlds to allow comparisons to be made at an abstract level. We focus in particular on the intrinsically competing aims of optimality versus multi-functionality and robustness. In this review, we present initial attempts towards defining suitable quantitative measures for robustness to serve as a common ground for studying technical systems and biological systems simultaneously. We discuss generic properties of a ubiquitous signalling network motif and potential relationships to a minimal model for a robust truss structure. These case studies suggest that topological complexity can serve as a common source for a design that is insensitive to perturbations and thus robust in the measures of both worlds.