Biomimicry: Structural Design lessons from Trees
Project Description
Trees have evolved with remarkable resilience against dynamic loads, yet the underlying mechanisms behind them remain poorly understood. This study aims to uncover the secrets of tree resilience by investigating the mechanical role of branching architecture in vibration mitigation. To this end, this study will employ advanced experimental approaches, including three-dimensional (3D) laser scanning and modal analysis, to measure the geometric and dynamic properties of trees. With these measurements, this study will analyze how the hierarchical structure of branching architecture contributes to preventing trees from collapsing under repetitive strong wind events.
Supervisor
DIMITRAKOPOULOS Ilias
Quota
4
Course type
UROP1000
UROP1100
UROP2100
UROP3100
UROP4100
Applicant's Roles
1. Design, analyze and build a small-scaled bio-mimicked tree-like structure.
2. Perform experiments to access the performance of tree-like structure under dynamic loads.
Applicant's Learning Objectives
Through this project the students will be able to
(1) explain why trees are efficient in resisting wind loading
(2) analyze complex structural models
(3) characterize advanced structural dynamic behavior
Complexity of the project
Challenging