Paradigms for biologically inspired design

Biologically inspired design is attracting increasing interest since it offers access to a huge biological repository of well proven design principles that can be used for developing new and innovative products. Biological phenomena can inspire product innovation in as diverse areas as mechanical engineering, medical engineering, nanotechnology, photonics, environmental protection and agriculture. However, a major obstacle for the wider use of biologically inspired design is the knowledge barrier that exist between the application engineers that have insight into how to design suitable products and the biologists with detailed knowledge and experience in understanding how biological organisms function in their environment. The biologically inspired design process can therefore be approached using different design paradigms depending on the dominant opportunities, challenges and knowledge characteristics. Design paradigms are typically characterized as either problem-driven, solution-driven, sustainability driven, bioreplication or a combination of two or more of them. The design paradigms represent different ways of overcoming the knowledge barrier and the present paper presents a review of their characterization and application

Challenges and Status on Design and Computation for Emerging Additive Manufacturing Technologies

The revolution of additive manufacturing (AM) has led to many opportunities in fabricating complex and novel products. The increase of printable materials and the emergence of novel fabrication processes continuously expand the possibility of engineering systems in which product components are no longer limited to be single material, single scale, or single function. In fact, a paradigm shift is taking place in industry from geometry-centered usage to supporting functional demands. Consequently, engineers are expected to resolve a wide range of complex and difficult problems related to functional design. Although a higher degree of design freedom beyond geometry has been enabled by AM, there are only very few computational design approaches in this new AM-enabled domain to design objects with tailored properties and functions. The objectives of this review paper are to provide an overview of recent additive manufacturing developments and current computer-aided design methodologies that can be applied to multimaterial, multiscale, multiform, and multifunctional AM technologies. The difficulties encountered in the computational design approaches are summarized and the future development needs are emphasized. In the paper, some present applications and future trends related to additive manufacturing technologies are also discussed

Emerging topics in nanophononics and elastic, acoustic, and mechanical metamaterials: an overview

This broad review summarizes recent advances and “hot” research topics in nanophononics and elastic, acoustic, and mechanical metamaterials based on results presented by the authors at the EUROMECH 610 Colloquium held on April 25–27, 2022 in Benicássim, Spain. The key goal of the colloquium was to highlight important developments in these areas, particularly new results that emerged during the last two years. This work thus presents a “snapshot” of the state-of-the-art of different nanophononics- and metamaterial-related topics rather than a historical view on these subjects, in contrast to a conventional review article. The introduction of basic definitions for each topic is followed by an outline of design strategies for the media under consideration, recently developed analysis and implementation techniques, and discussions of current challenges and promising applications. This review, while not comprehensive, will be helpful especially for early-career researchers, among others, as it offers a broad view of the current state-of-the-art and highlights some unique and flourishing research in the mentioned fields, providing insight into multiple exciting research directions

Emerging topics in nanophononics and elastic, acoustic, and mechanical metamaterials:An overview

This broad review summarizes recent advances and “hot” research topics in nanophononics and elastic, acoustic, and mechanical metamaterials based on results presented by the authors at the EUROMECH 610 Colloquium held on April 25–27, 2022 in Benicássim, Spain. The key goal of the colloquium was to highlight important developments in these areas, particularly new results that emerged during the last two years. This work thus presents a “snapshot” of the state-of-the-art of different nanophononics- and metamaterial-related topics rather than a historical view on these subjects, in contrast to a conventional review article. The introduction of basic definitions for each topic is followed by an outline of design strategies for the media under consideration, recently developed analysis and implementation techniques, and discussions of current challenges and promising applications. This review, while not comprehensive, will be helpful especially for early-career researchers, among others, as it offers a broad view of the current state-of-the-art and highlights some unique and flourishing research in the mentioned fields, providing insight into multiple exciting research directions

The Digital in Architecture: Then, Now and In the Future

Authored by architecture theorist Mollie Claypool, it’s your one-stop-shop for the history of digital thinking in architecture. From debates around parametric design to the emergence of collaboration, the report condenses the interplay between digital innovation and architecture into one, tangible piece to reference

Thrust Network Analysis : exploring three-dimensional equilibrium

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Architecture, 2009.This electronic version was submitted by the student author. The certified thesis is available in the Institute Archives and Special Collections.Includes bibliographical references (p. 145-153).This dissertation presents Thrust Network Analysis, a new methodology for generating compression-only vaulted surfaces and networks. The method finds possible funicular solutions under gravitational loading within a defined envelope. Using projective geometry, duality theory and linear optimization, it provides a graphical and intuitive method, adopting the same advantages of techniques such as graphic statics, but offering a viable extension to fully three-dimensional problems. The proposed method is applicable for the analysis of vaulted historical structures, specifically in unreinforced masonry, as well as the design of new vaulted structures. This dissertation introduces the method and shows examples of applications in both fields. Thrust Network Analysis, masonry, historic structures, compression-only structures, limit analysis, equilibrium analysis, funicular design, form-finding, structural optimization, Gothic vaults, reciprocal diagrams.by Philippe Block.Ph.D

Prestress in Nature and Technics

To direct the forces of nature is a central task in the creation of spaces and load-carrying structures for architecture. This research investigates how prestress can be used as a design tool for the creation of material efficient and well-functioning structures, and in early design stages contribute to sustainable, functional and beautiful architecture.The thesis begins with a discussion about central concepts such as stress and stiffness. Stiffness can be understood as the sum of elastic stiffness and geometric stiffness and the latter is differently influenced by the presence of tensile or compressive stresses. Only structures that are statically indeterminate are possible to prestress so that the stress pattern is affected. The terms externally-equilibrated and auto-equilibrated prestressed structures are introduced.The design of load-bearing structures for architecture requires a collaboration between architects and engineers and the conditions for a successful collaboration is reflected upon. Prominent design cultures are highlighted and the one this research is linked to is described.A collection of historic and contemporary examples of prestressed structures is presented. The focus is architectural applications but examples from other realms are also included. From this collection, a framework for prestressed structures is proposed and discussed which considers five perspectives. The first explores the historical knowledge development. The second is devoted to structural mechanical modes of actions where material behaviour, member actions and structural systems are discussed. The third highlights computational strategies and those appropriate for early stage design are distinguished from those suitable for late stage verification. The fourth perspective seeks to establish objectives for why prestress is used. The fifth perspective leads to suggestions for strategies for how the prestress is achieved.Three papers are included. Paper A presents a numerical method for the form finding of prestressed gridshells consisting of both compressed and tensioned members. Paper B describes a structural design process where methods usually applied by architects are used by structural engineers. The work resulted in the construction of a temporary pavilion consisting of a post-tensioned wooden gridshell called the Wood Fusion Pavilion. Paper C explores under what conditions an unloaded shell formed of a closed surface unattached to any supports can contain a state of membrane stress which can be induced by prestressing. It is concluded that a torus can be prestressed, but there must almost certainly be more to explore

Rotorigami: A rotary origami protective system for robotic rotorcraft

Applications of aerial robots are progressively expanding into complex urban and natural environments. Despite remarkable advancements in the field, robotic rotorcraft is still drastically limited by the environment in which they operate. Obstacle detection and avoidance systems have functionality limitations and substantially add to the computational complexity of the onboard equipment of flying vehicles. Furthermore, they often cannot identify difficult-to-detect obstacles such as windows and wires. Robustness to physical contact with the environment is essential to mitigate these limitations and continue mission completion. However, many current mechanical impact protection concepts are either not sufficiently effective or too heavy and cumbersome, severely limiting the flight time and the capability of flying in constrained and narrow spaces. Therefore, novel impact protection systems are needed to enable flying robots to navigate in confined or heavily cluttered environments easily, safely, and efficiently while minimizing the performance penalty caused by the protection method. Here, we report the development of a protection system for robotic rotorcraft consisting of a free-to-spin circular protector that is able to decouple impact yawing moments from the vehicle, combined with a cyclic origami impact cushion capable of reducing the peak impact force experienced by the vehicle. Experimental results using a sensor-equipped miniature quadrotor demonstrated the impact resilience effectiveness of the Rotary Origami Protective System (Rotorigami) for a variety of collision scenarios. We anticipate this work to be a starting point for the exploitation of origami structures in the passive or active impact protection of robotic vehicles