Cactus
Description of the Organism
Inner structure: The internal skeleton of a cactus provides structural support while maximizing water efficiency. This woody lattice remains intact long after the plant dies, inspiring lightweight architectural designs and bio-inspired water filtration systems that mimic its water retention properties.
Scientific Papers
A state-of-the-art review of Euphorbia Tortilis cactus as a bio-additive for sustainable construction materials
This review is the first to provide an insight into the possibilities of cactus in many branches of cement and concrete technology. Polysaccharides have the potential to expand knowledge and alter the C-S-H structure at the nanoscale, according to developments in concrete technology. Understanding cement hydration mechanisms and researching the structure of C-S-H are long-standing endeavors in a number of fields of cement and concrete research. By including silanes, researchers have tried to modify C-S-H, making it easier to comprehend its structure. Because of optimistic outcomes, research on bio-additives has recently increased in a number of areas of cement science and concrete. Overall, it has been demonstrated that the hydration, strength, and durability of cement are significantly impacted by variations in polysaccharides. This paper shows how natural additives might be used in future research to examine and enhance the microstructure of hydrated cement and concrete.
Hierarchical structures of cactus spines that aid in the directional movement of dew droplets
Three species of cactus whose spines act as dew harvesters were chosen for this study: Copiapoa cinerea var. haseltoniana, Mammillaria columbiana subsp. yucatanensis and Parodia mammulosa and compared with Ferocactus wislizenii whose spines do not perform as dew harvesters. Time-lapse snapshots of C. cinerea showed movement of dew droplets from spine tips to their base, even against gravity. Spines emanating from one of the areoles of C. cinerea were submerged in water laced with fluorescent nanoparticles and this particular areole with its spines and a small area of stem was removed and imaged. These images clearly showed that fluorescent water had moved into the stem of the plant. Lines of vascular bundles radiating inwards from the surface areoles (from where the spines emanate) to the core of the stem were detected using magnetic resonance imaging, with the exception of F. wislizenii that does not harvest dew on its spines. Spine microstructures were examined using SEM images and surface roughness measurements (Ra and Rz) taken of the spines of C. cinerea. It was found that a roughness gradient created by tapered microgrooves existed that could potentially direct surface water from a spine tip to its base.
Bio-inspired passive actuator simulating an abalone shell mechanism for structural control
Adaptation strategies and principles can be learned from nature. It has developed through their evolution various strategies to cope with the different climatic aspects that suit different environmental conditions. Investigating and analyzing these strategies and their dominating principles is essential prior to the transfer of their strategies to adaptive building envelopes. From plant adaptations to Building envelopes using biomimicry. This approach can help future building skins to be more responsive and adaptive that change with time to adapt environmental conditions to both external and internal conditions and satisfies thermal comfort levels.
Other Articles
Shell Protects, Supports, and Allows for Growth Mollusks (Snails, Octopuses)
“Consider shapes that satisfy the following set of conditions. To provide both support and protection for the organism, the shape must be a hollow one, but an opening must exist somewhere. Growth can occur only by addition to the inner surface or the free edge. And the shape should change only minimally as it grows. A cubic shell with an open face won’t work: addition to walls will give more shell relative to its contained volume, and addition to cylinder doesn’t meet the conditions–addition to the edge will move it from short and fat to long and (relatively) thin. What will work are cones, whether circular or elliptical. Add to the edge and thicken the walls and one gets a bigger cone, isometric with the original.
With only slight variations of the condition of isometry, all sorts of wild derivatives of cones are possible–and these latter are the shapes in which shelled mollusks occur.”
Coordinated Robot Swarm Inspired by Snails
Robotic swarms, designed to perform various tasks in controlled indoor environments, frequently encounter significant limitations when deployed in outdoor, unstructured settings. Traditional designs typically rely on rigid, predefined formations and connections that lack the flexibility to adapt to unpredictable and varied terrain. Furthermore, the stability of these systems is often compromised due to the freeform connections between individual units, making them less effective in environments that demand robustness and adaptability.
In addition to physical limitations, most terrestrial robotic swarms are not designed for dynamic reconfiguration under real-world conditions, limiting their usability across different scenarios. This results in a decreased efficiency and a reduced range of tasks that such systems can handle effectively.