Overview

With the onward march of science and technology, and the continuing quest for improvement, there is a growing curiosity about the world around us. Close examination of structures in nature can be rewarding and surprising. Nature has shown an extraordinary capacity to develop dynamic structures and systems over many millions of years and there is still much to be learnt. Aimed at providing researchers in this subject with fresh impetus and inspiration, this book consists of papers presented at the First International Conference on Design and Nature. The contributions reflect the rich variety of work currently taking place around the world and cover topics within shape and form in engineering and nature, solutions from nature, design and sustainability studies, nature and architectural design, mechanics and thermodynamics in nature, biomimetics and materials, and vision in science and nature.

Full Product Details

Author:   L.J. Sucharov ,  P. Pascolo ,  C. A. Brebbia (Wessex Institut of Technology)
Publisher:   WIT Press
Imprint:   WIT Press
Volume:   v. 3
ISBN:  

9781853129018

ISBN 10:   1853129011
Pages:   460
Publication Date:   21 August 2002
Audience:   College/higher education ,  Professional and scholarly ,  Undergraduate ,  Postgraduate, Research & Scholarly
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   In Print  
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Table of Contents

Section 1 Shape and form in engineering and nature: Optimal structural features in trees and their application in engineering; Nature in growth of tree stems derived from ring analysis; Integrating biological optimisation methods into engineering design process; Designing tree-like engineering networks by mimicking evolution; Scale transition in bone elasticity: a continuum micromechanics approach; Constructal theory of organization in nature: dendritic flows, allometric laws and flight; On the design of efficient micro air vehicles; The evolution of the car: An investigation into product history. Similarities, contrasts and questions. The importance of the microstructure of snow in nature and engineering; Morphology of the pox viruses; Experimental evidences for chaotic dynamics in the roar of the Cervus Elaphus corsicanus. Section 2 Solutions from nature: New procedure for designing optimised technical systems with use of biological objects; Miniature attachment systems: exploring biological design principles; Extending nature; Natural hook-and-loop fasteners: anatomy, mechanical properties, and attachment force of the jointed hooks of the Galium aparine fruit; Solutions derived from natural processes harmonising nature and material culture. Section 3 Design and sustainability studies: Urban evolution modelling: A macro quantum approach for Great Mendoza; Thermodynamic concepts for sustainability studies; A district oriented approach to energy analysis: a case study from the food industry; Designing a DNA for adaptive architecture: a new built environment for social sustainability; Design in nature from Pythagoras to Helmholtz to the Cantor musical array. Section 4 Nature and architectural design: Diversified longevity - an architecture of disengagement and localized production; The 'curves of nature' - the organic inflections of modern regionalism and ecological architecture in an urbanising context; Synthesis of form, structure and material - Design for a form-optimized lightweight membrane construction; Text-tiles of in-formation: Drawing inspiration from the nature of things; Theory and simulation of texture formation in chiral nematic liquid crystals: applications to biological fibrous composites; A ghost image of the Colonia G ell church by Antoni Gaudi; An analysis of structure design of storey-increase of certain building on natural foundation; Nature and design in traditional Persian architecture. (part contents)

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