BIOMIMICRY IN
CIVIL ENGINEERING
PRESENTED BY
ANJITHA P ANILKUMAR
CODE NO : 41892
What is Biomimicry?

It is a method for creating solutions to human challenges
by emulating designs and ideas found in nature.

It is used everywhere : buildings, vehicles, materials,
fashion, transportation etc.
Biomimicry In Civil Engineering

Biomimicry in civil engineering is an applied science that deals with the
incorporation of the nature’s potentials into the civil construction techniques, to
reduce the environmental degradation and to make the construction cost and labour
effective.
•
Structural Design
•
Passive cooling
•
Self repairing concrete
•
Honeycomb structure
•
Self cleaning paints
STRUCTURAL DESIGN

Earlier during a bridge design, single
column was commonly in use without
considering adaptable material
distribution concept.


Lack of slenderness.
The tree is a classic prototype in bioinspired research.
STRUCTURAL DESIGN

The trunk and supporting branches of
a tree are a brilliant example of
structural optimization.

Structural principals of tree provide
multiple load paths to maintain a
uniform load distribution.
Tree type column in biomimicry

This design as a result leads to a
structure full of slenderness.
Tree type column in biomimicry
PASSIVE COOLING
In Zimbabwe’s extremely hot climate, the building’s primary
cooling method is natural ventilation.
The East-gate Complex, located in Harare, Zimbabwe
TERMITE MOUNDS

Firm Arup - Mick Pearce - Inspiration for
the ventilation design from termite
mounds.

The termites constantly opening and
closing a series of heating and cooling
vents throughout the mound over the
course of the day.
Termite mounds
PASSIVE COOLING

Passive-cooling structure with :

specially designed hooded windows

variable thickness walls

light coloured paints to reduce heat
absorption

Roof top gardening
The East-gate Complex inside view
SELF CLEANING PAINT

Germany company, StoColor
Lotusan® developed a
biomimicry inspired exterior
coating with a water-repellant
surface based on that of the lotus
leaf.

Professor Wilhem Barthlott University of Bonn in Germany

‘How does nature clean surfaces?’

It designs self-cleaning surfaces
with hydrophobic properties.
Paint by biomimicry
Lotus Effect

The
lotus
hydrophobic
leaves

Super-hydrophobic mean that the
leaves do not get wet as they repel
water.

When the rain droplets run through
the surface they pick up the dust that
accumulates on top, leaving the
leaves completely cleaned as well as
dried.

have
a
behaviour
superof its
This self-cleaning effect is called
lotus effect
Lotus effect
LOTUSAN BIOMIMICRY PAINT

The paint creates microstructures on the façade of buildings in
a way that is similar to the microstructures on lotus leaves.

It reduces the build-up of algae and mold.

Maintenance costs are lower and façades have to be repainted
less frequently.
WHY SELF REPAIRING CONCRETE

Concrete is the most widely used building material.
However,
the
production
of
concrete
has
a
serious
environmental impact.

Producing one ton of concrete leads to the emission of 100 kg
of CO2.

Another problem with concrete is that it is prone to cracking,
which reduces the lifespan of concrete buildings.

Maintaining concrete buildings is therefore quite expensive.
SELF REPAIRING CONCRETE

Self repairing concept of concrete is inspired from the
regeneration process of creature lizard.

The repair material is to be mixed inside the concrete during
the production of mix.

When the internal stress in concrete exceed specific limit the
repair material get activated

when water enters the cracks it hydrates the concrete’s calcium
oxide to form calcium hydroxide.

The calcium hydroxide reacts with the co2 in the air, starting a
process called autogenous healing where microscopic calcium
carbonate crystals form carbonate and gradually fill the crack.
SELF REPAIRING CONCRETE
HONEYCOMB STRUCTURE

The hexagonal structure of the honeycomb is well known to
everyone.

Have you ever wondered why bee construct hexagonal
honeycombs rather than other shapes?

A hexagonal is the most appropriate geometric form for the
maximum use of given area.
HONEYCOMB STRUCTURE

Zaha Hadid Archiects has completed the honeycomb shaped
Research Centre in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia.
METHODOLOGY FOR
ADOPTING BIOMIMICRY

Select initial information source of biological phenomena.

Identify synonyms for engineering functional keywords.

Find out connection between engineering keywords and biological
phenomena.

Be in search of more relevant biological phenomena.
RESEARCH IN
MIMOSA PUDICA

When the stimulus excites the leaves of mimosa pudica the
leaves of the plant is set into the motion.

The stimulation in the plant is transmitted by the loss and gain
of the Turgor Pressure, which is also called osmotic pressure
change.

Turgor pressure is the only mechanism available in plants for
the movement.

An initiative has to be taken to implement this transmission
mechanism in the civil construction practices.
BIOMIMICRY TO SUSTAINABILITY

Preservation of raw materials

Cost efficient

Low Energy consumption

Environmentally sustainable

Diverse