Editing Biomimetics (section)

=== Biomimetic architecture ===
Living beings have adapted to a constantly changing environment during evolution through mutation, recombination, and selection.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book|title=Biomimetic research for architecture and building construction: biological design and integrative structures|date=2016|publisher=Springer |editor=Knippers, Jan |editor2=Nickel, Klaus G. |editor3=Speck, Thomas |isbn=978-3-319-46374-2|location=Cham|oclc=967523159}}</ref> The core idea of the biomimetic philosophy is that nature's inhabitants including animals, plants, and microbes have the most experience in solving problems and have already found the most appropriate ways to last on planet Earth.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Collins|first=George R.|date=1963|title=Antonio Gaudi: Structure and Form|journal=Perspecta|volume=8|pages=63–90|doi=10.2307/1566905|jstor=1566905|issn=0079-0958}}</ref> Similarly, biomimetic architecture seeks solutions for building sustainability present in nature. While nature serves as a model, there are few examples of biomimetic architecture that aim to be nature positive.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Urban Science |url=https://www.mdpi.com/journal/urbansci/special_issues/nature_positive_design |access-date=2024-05-05 |website=www.mdpi.com |language=en}}</ref>

The 21st century has seen a ubiquitous waste of energy due to inefficient building designs, in addition to the over-utilization of energy during the operational phase of its life cycle.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Radwan|first1=Gehan.A.N.|last2=Osama|first2=Nouran|date=2016|title=Biomimicry, an Approach, for Energy Effecient &#91;sic&#93; Building Skin Design|journal=Procedia Environmental Sciences|language=en|volume=34|pages=178–189|doi=10.1016/j.proenv.2016.04.017|doi-access=free|bibcode=2016PrEnS..34..178R }}</ref> In parallel, recent advancements in fabrication techniques, computational imaging, and simulation tools have opened up new possibilities to mimic nature across different architectural scales.<ref name=":1" /> As a result, there has been a rapid growth in devising innovative design approaches and solutions to counter energy problems. Biomimetic architecture is one of these multi-disciplinary approaches to [[sustainable design]] that follows a set of principles rather than stylistic codes, going beyond using nature as inspiration for the aesthetic components of built form but instead seeking to use nature to solve problems of the building's functioning and saving energy.

==== Characteristics ====
The term biomimetic architecture refers to the study and application of construction principles which are found in natural environments and species, and are translated into the design of sustainable solutions for architecture.<ref name=":1" /> Biomimetic architecture uses nature as a model, measure and mentor for providing architectural solutions across scales, which are inspired by natural organisms that have solved similar problems in nature. Using nature as a measure refers to using an ecological standard of measuring sustainability, and efficiency of man-made innovations, while the term mentor refers to learning from natural principles and using biology as an inspirational source.<ref name="Benyus 1997" />

Biomorphic architecture, also referred to as bio-decoration,<ref name=":1" /> on the other hand, refers to the use of formal and geometric elements found in nature, as a source of inspiration for aesthetic properties in designed architecture, and may not necessarily have non-physical, or economic functions. A historic example of biomorphic architecture dates back to Egyptian, Greek and Roman cultures, using tree and plant forms in the ornamentation of structural columns.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Aziz|first1=Moheb Sabry|last2=El sherif|first2=Amr Y.|date=March 2016|title=Biomimicry as an approach for bio-inspired structure with the aid of computation|journal=Alexandria Engineering Journal|language=en|volume=55|issue=1|pages=707–714|doi=10.1016/j.aej.2015.10.015|doi-access=free}}</ref>

==== Procedures ====
Within biomimetic architecture, two basic procedures can be identified, namely, the bottom-up approach (biology push) and top-down approach (technology pull).<ref>{{Citation|last1=Speck|first1=Thomas|title=Emergence in Biomimetic Materials Systems|date=2019|url=http://link.springer.com/10.1007/978-3-030-06128-9_5|work=Emergence and Modularity in Life Sciences|pages=97–115|editor-last=Wegner|editor-first=Lars H.|place=Cham|publisher=Springer International Publishing|language=en|doi=10.1007/978-3-030-06128-9_5|isbn=978-3-030-06127-2|access-date=2020-11-23|last2=Speck|first2=Olga|s2cid=139377667 |editor2-last=Lüttge|editor2-first=Ulrich|url-access=subscription}}</ref> The boundary between the two approaches is blurry with the possibility of transition between the two, depending on each individual case. Biomimetic architecture is typically carried out in interdisciplinary teams in which biologists and other natural scientists work in collaboration with engineers, material scientists, architects, designers, mathematicians and computer scientists.

In the bottom-up approach, the starting point is a new result from basic biological research promising for biomimetic implementation. For example, developing a biomimetic material system after the quantitative analysis of the mechanical, physical, and chemical properties of a biological system.

In the top-down approach, biomimetic innovations are sought for already existing developments that have been successfully established on the market. The cooperation focuses on the improvement or further development of an existing product.

==== Examples ====
Researchers studied the [[termite]]'s ability to maintain virtually constant temperature and humidity in their [[termite mound]]s in Africa despite outside temperatures that vary from {{convert|1.5|to|40|C|F}}. Researchers initially scanned a termite mound and created 3-D images of the mound structure, which revealed construction that could influence human [[building design]]. The [[Eastgate Centre, Harare|Eastgate Centre]], a mid-rise office complex in [[Harare]], [[Zimbabwe]],<ref name="BI">{{Cite web|url=https://biomimicry.org/biomimicry-examples/|title=The Biomimicry Institute - Examples of nature-inspired sustainable design|website=Biomimicry Institute|access-date=2019-07-02|archive-date=2022-01-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220123071717/https://biomimicry.org/biomimicry-examples/|url-status=dead}}</ref> stays cool via a passive cooling architecture that uses only 10% of the energy of a conventional building of the same size. 

[[File:Co op Building dual facade.jpg|thumb|A [[Waagner-Biro]] double-skin facade being assembled at [[One Angel Square]], [[Manchester]]. The brown outer facade can be seen being assembled to the inner white facade via struts. These struts create a walkway between both 'skins' for ventilation, solar shading and maintenance.]]

Researchers in the [[Sapienza University of Rome]] were inspired by the natural ventilation in termite mounds and designed a double façade that significantly cuts down over lit areas in a building. Scientists have imitated the porous nature of mound walls by designing a facade with double panels that was able to reduce heat gained by radiation and increase heat loss by convection in cavity between the two panels. The overall cooling load on the building's energy consumption was reduced by 15%.<ref>El Ahmar, Salma & Fioravanti, Antonio. (2015). Biomimetic-Computational Design for Double Facades in Hot Climates: A Porous Folded Façade for Office Buildings.</ref>

A similar inspiration was drawn from the porous walls of termite mounds to design a naturally ventilated façade with a small ventilation gap. This design of façade is able to induce air flow due to the [[Venturi effect]] and continuously circulates rising air in the ventilation slot. Significant transfer of heat between the building's external wall surface and the air flowing over it was observed.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Paar |first1=Michael Johann |last2=Petutschnigg |first2=Alexander |title=Biomimetic inspired, natural ventilated façade – A conceptual study |journal=Journal of Facade Design and Engineering |date=8 July 2017 |volume=4 |issue=3–4 |pages=131–142 |doi=10.3233/FDE-171645 |doi-access=free }}</ref> The design is coupled with [[Green wall|greening]] of the façade. Green wall facilitates additional natural cooling via evaporation, respiration and transpiration in plants. The damp plant substrate further support the cooling effect.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Wong |first1=Nyuk Hien |last2=Kwang Tan |first2=Alex Yong |last3=Chen |first3=Yu |last4=Sekar |first4=Kannagi |last5=Tan |first5=Puay Yok |last6=Chan |first6=Derek |last7=Chiang |first7=Kelly |last8=Wong |first8=Ngian Chung |title=Thermal evaluation of vertical greenery systems for building walls |journal=Building and Environment |date=March 2010 |volume=45 |issue=3 |pages=663–672 |doi=10.1016/j.buildenv.2009.08.005 |bibcode=2010BuEnv..45..663W }}</ref>[[File:Sepiolite-469730.jpg|thumb|Sepiolite in solid form]]
Scientists in [[Shanghai University]] were able to replicate the complex microstructure of clay-made conduit network in the mound to mimic the excellent humidity control in mounds. They proposed a porous humidity control material (HCM) using [[sepiolite]] and [[calcium chloride]] with water vapor adsorption-desorption content at 550 grams per meter squared. Calcium chloride is a [[desiccant]] and improves the water vapor adsorption-desorption property of the Bio-HCM. The proposed bio-HCM has a regime of interfiber mesopores which acts as a mini reservoir. The flexural strength of the proposed material was estimated to be 10.3 MPa using computational simulations.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Liu |first1=Xiaopeng |last2=Chen |first2=Zhang |last3=Yang |first3=Guang |last4=Gao |first4=Yanfeng |title=Bioinspired Ant-Nest-Like Hierarchical Porous Material Using CaCl<sub>2</sub> as Additive for Smart Indoor Humidity Control |journal=Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research |date=2 April 2019 |volume=58 |issue=17 |pages=7139–7145 |doi=10.1021/acs.iecr.8b06092 |s2cid=131825398 |url=https://figshare.com/articles/Bioinspired_Ant-Nest-Like_Hierarchical_Porous_Material_Using_CaCl_sub_2_sub_as_Additive_for_Smart_Indoor_Humidity_Control/7940336 |url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Lan |first1=Haoran |last2=Jing |first2=Zhenzi |last3=Li |first3=Jian |last4=Miao |first4=Jiajun |last5=Chen |first5=Yuqian |title=Influence of pore dimensions of materials on humidity self-regulating performances |journal=Materials Letters |date=October 2017 |volume=204 |pages=23–26 |doi=10.1016/j.matlet.2017.05.095 |bibcode=2017MatL..204...23L }}</ref>

In structural engineering, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology ([[École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne|EPFL]]) has incorporated biomimetic characteristics in an adaptive deployable "tensegrity" bridge. The bridge can carry out self-diagnosis and self-repair.<ref name="korkmaz">{{cite journal |last1=Korkmaz |first1=Sinan |last2=Bel Hadj Ali |first2=Nizar |last3=Smith |first3=Ian F.C. |title=Determining control strategies for damage tolerance of an active tensegrity structure |journal=Engineering Structures |date=June 2011 |volume=33 |issue=6 |pages=1930–1939 |doi=10.1016/j.engstruct.2011.02.031 |bibcode=2011EngSt..33.1930K |citeseerx=10.1.1.370.6243 }}</ref> The [[phyllotaxy|arrangement of leaves on a plant]] has been adapted for better solar power collection.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.amnh.org/learn-teach/young-naturalist-awards/winning-essays2/2011-winning-essays/the-secret-of-the-fibonacci-sequence-in-trees|title=The Secret of the Fibonacci Sequence in Trees|date=1 May 2014|work=2011 Winning Essays|publisher=[[American Museum of Natural History]]|access-date=17 July 2014}}</ref>

Analysis of the elastic deformation happening when a pollinator lands on the sheath-like perch part of the flower ''[[Strelitzia reginae]]'' (known as [[Strelitzia|bird-of-paradise]] flower) has inspired architects and scientists from the [[University of Freiburg]] and [[University of Stuttgart]] to create hingeless shading systems that can react to their environment. These bio-inspired products are sold under the name Flectofin.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Lienhard|first1=J|last2=Schleicher|first2=S|last3=Poppinga|first3=S|last4=Masselter|first4=T|last5=Milwich|first5=M|last6=Speck|first6=T|last7=Knippers|first7=J|date=2011-11-29|title=Flectofin: a hingeless flapping mechanism inspired by nature|journal=Bioinspiration & Biomimetics|volume=6|issue=4|pages=045001|doi=10.1088/1748-3182/6/4/045001|pmid=22126741|issn=1748-3182|bibcode=2011BiBi....6d5001L|s2cid=41502774}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|last=Jürgen Bertling|title=Flectofin|date=2012-05-15|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyLR_-fW0aA |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/XyLR_-fW0aA| archive-date=2021-12-11 |url-status=live|access-date=2019-06-27}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

Other hingeless bioinspired systems include Flectofold.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Körner|first1=A|last2=Born|first2=L|last3=Mader|first3=A|last4=Sachse|first4=R|last5=Saffarian|first5=S|last6=Westermeier|first6=A S|last7=Poppinga|first7=S|last8=Bischoff|first8=M|last9=Gresser|first9=G T|date=2017-12-12|title=Flectofold—a biomimetic compliant shading device for complex free form facades|journal=Smart Materials and Structures|volume=27|issue=1|pages=017001|doi=10.1088/1361-665x/aa9c2f|s2cid=139146312|issn=0964-1726|url=https://zenodo.org/record/3498858}}{{Dead link|date=October 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Flectofold has been inspired from the trapping system developed by the carnivorous plant ''[[Aldrovanda vesiculosa]]''.