New lightweight materials inspired by nature
Prof. Silvestre T Pinho |
TEDxUniversityofStrathclyde
• October 2021
Bioinspired materials are one of the vital keys to unlocking a more sustainable future not just for humans but for the whole planet. From the materials of the past which helped to shape our society's evolution to materials of the future which will enable great advances in aviation and sustainable infrastructure, this riveting and highly educational talk by Professor Silvestre Pinho takes us on a journey of materials exploration. By taking inspiration from and imitating nature or as it is known, biomimetics, Professor Pinho presents the case that we can help make our aircraft fly more efficiently and make promising strides towards reducing our carbon emissions. This talk is a fantastic example of how by looking to nature for inspiration and combining this with human ingenuity, we can create materials which will increase performance of our vehicles and decrease our reliance on emissions intensive manufacturing processes.
This talk is proudly sponsored by Deccan Airsports, South India’s first Airsports company. https://www.deccanairsports.com/
#Composites #Biomimetics #CarbonFibre #Materials #Research #NetZero #Aviation
The mantis shrimp is a formidable predator. At mealtime, it uses its club to hit the hard defensive shells of crabs and break them. How does it do it? In part, it evolved an intricate micro-structured material for its club. Other animals have evolved intricate micro-structured materials too, including lobsters, beetles, molluscs and many others. And it’s not just animals: plants such as bamboo, lotus and many others have evolved fantastic micro-structures too.
It is therefore not surprising that scientists and engineers are looking carefully at these materials and trying to figure out if they can identify the underpinning principles that makes them outstanding and somehow replicate them in human-made advanced light-weight materials. What they are finding is that we can create an exciting array of diverse bio-inspired materials which over-perform traditional engineering materials for various applications.
In this talk, Silvestre discusses how mastering new materials has been a key to the progress and resilience of human civilization, why biological materials are amazing, and how scientists are currently taking inspiration from them for applications in aerospace, automotive and sport.
In the order of appearance, below is the list of references:
1. Stone age:
Gugatchitchinadze, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Stone-age-painting.jpg
2. Bronze age:
Dbachmann, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bronze_Age_sword#/media/File:Apa_Schwerter.jpg
3. Ancient Egypt:
The Bible and Science, TL Brunton, 1881
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:The_Bible_and_science_(1881)_(14598294700).jpg
No known copyright restrictions
Moses with the Tables of the Law, G Reni circa 1624
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Guido_Reni_-_Moses_with_the_Tables_of_the_Law_-_WGA19289.jpg
No copyright restrictions
4. Modern times:
Airbus Zeroe concept
© Airbus 2020
https://airbus-h.assetsadobe2.com/is/image/content/dam/events/conference/press-conference/AirbusZEROe-blendedwingbody-concept-1.jpg?wid=3626&fit=constrain
Claim aviation would use 27% of carbon budget by 2050 on current technology:
https://www.carbonbrief.org/aviation-consume-quarter-carbon-budget
5. Mantis shrimp:
Photograph of mantis shrimp
prilfish, CC BY 2.0, via Flickr
https://www.flickr.com/photos/37707866@N00/4878586174
Video of mantis shrimp
youtube/mantisman
https://youtu.be/U11DgbefmQQ?t=250
Bio-inspired helicoidal structure
Mencatelli and Pinho, 2019
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compscitech.2019.107684
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compositesa.2019.105655
6. Multiple length scales
Fracture of wood:
Public domain
https://www.pikist.com/free-photo-szwfe
Bio-inspired hierarchical microstructure
Bullegas, Pimenta and Pinho, 2018
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compscitech.2018.07.004
7. Other microstructures
Nacre:
Photograph of nacre
Public domain
https://www.pikist.com/free-photo-invcd
Bio-inspired nacre
Narducci and Pinho, 2017
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compscitech.2017.08.023
Queen conch:
Photograph of queen conch
Veronidae, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Strombus_gigas.jpg
Bio-inspired queen conch
Hasa and Pinho, 2019
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmps.2018.12.008
Fish scales:
Photograph of fish scales
Public domain
https://www.pikist.com/free-photo-vkvnc
Bio-inspired fish scales
Hasa and Pinho, 2020
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matlet.2020.127966
8. Conclusion
© Rolls-Royce 2020, via Flickr
https://flickr.com/photos/rolls-royceplc/49515155713/in/album-72157644584413758/