Browsing by Author "Linnemann, Selina Kayla"
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- Functional morphology of diatom frustules and their potential for the development of bio-inspired stiffening structuresPublication . Linnemann, Selina Kayla; Silva, João Miguel Sousa da; Hamm-Dubischar, ChristianThe intricate and highly complex morphologies of diatom frustules have long captured the attention of biomimetic researchers, promoting innovation in engineering solutions. This study investigates the potential of diatom-inspired surface stiffeners to determine whether the introduced innovative strategy is a viable alternative for addressing engineering challenges demanding enhanced stiffness. By merging principles from both biology and engineering, this interdisciplinary study focuses on the computer-aided generation of stress-adaptive structures aimed at optimising bending stiffness. The study serves as a framework for innovation by approaching scientific questions from a new perspective, enabling the application of biomimetic principles to formulate novel scientific methods. The biomimetic approach involves identifying a biological analogy for technical challenges, here exemplified by the resilient diatom frustules. Through a comprehensive microscopical analysis consisting of light microscopy, confocal laser scanning microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy, morphological characteristics were identified to derive geometrical principles from the observations. The abstracted principles were then applied to a reference model utilizing computer-aided methods and simulated to analyse their mechanical behaviour under load-bearing conditions. Afterwards, the models were compared against a conventional engineering approach. A total of 17 diatom genera were identified, exhibiting structural elements such as combs, ribs, and hierarchical layers. The most promising biomimetic approach was successfully automated, extending its applicability to non-planar surfaces and diverse boundary conditions. It yielded notable improvement in bending stiffness, which manifests a decrease of displacement by approximately 93 % in comparison to the reference model with an equivalent total mass. Nonetheless, for the specific load case considered, the engineering approach yielded the least displacement. Although certain applications may favour conventional methods, diatom-inspired stress-adaptive designs appear promising for scenarios subjected to varying stresses, necessitating lightweight and robust solutions. The applications of diatom-inspired stiffening structures extend across a range of fields, including aerospace engineering, medical devices, and civil engineering.