Design in Nature

Mattheck, C.

doi:10.1007/978-3-642-58747-4

Cited by 142 publications

(38 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…homogeneous state of stress on their surface [1] and reduce stress peaks by adaptive growth. Based on the Finite Element Method (FEM), this principle was transferred into technical application and used for the optimization of technical components.…”

Section: Methods Of Tensile Trianglesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Easing cracks with the Method of Tensile Triangles

Mattheck

Wissner

Tesari

et al. 2010

WIT Transactions on Ecology and the Environment

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The "Method of Tensile Triangles" was introduced as a design tool that mimics the rules of nature for the shape optimization of a design scheme with respect to increased fatigue life and reduced weight. It was inspired by the shape of buttress roots in trees. Like them it bridges a corner-like notch with tensile loaded triangles. The notch shape may be scaled up and down according to the individual design space limitations of the technical structure.Failure often starts at the cracks tips and slot ends in technical components, because these domains are highly loaded due to stress concentrations. Conventional rounding or drilling away of these crack tips can only lower the stresses. By means of the "Method of Tensile Triangles", stress concentrations can be minimized and the endings redesigned and compressed.In this paper the "Method of Tensile Triangles" will be explained and it will be shown, by results of Finite Element analyses, how the destructive effect of crack tips and slot ends in technical components can be eliminated.

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Section: Methods Of Tensile Trianglesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Because the wood fibre direction is largely in agreement with the force flow in the tree, the smaller transverse effects are somewhat falsified due to using only the Youngsmodulus in the grain direction [1].…”

Section: Methods Of Tensile Trianglesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Easing cracks with the Method of Tensile Triangles

Mattheck

Wissner

Tesari

et al. 2010

WIT Transactions on Ecology and the Environment

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show abstract

“…With the given design spaces and the load and support boundary conditions, the method fi nds optimized topology designs, which can be used as design proposals [1].…”

Section: Soft Kill Optionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The force cone method: a new thinking tool for lightweight structures

Mattheck¹,

Haller²

2013

Int. J. DNE

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The force cone method developed by Claus Mattheck enables computer-free topology designing and offers a profound knowledge for lightweight structures. Thus, the recently developed method enhances the series of the so-called thinking tools. The method's basic idea is the force distribution of a single force in an elastic plane. The symmetrically placed cones appear in front of the force and behind it. These cones intersect with 90° angles at primary points that quickly lead to a structural design proposal. Furthermore, the method is very useful for the evaluation of structures and their lightweight potential. With the knowledge of the load case, it is easy to identify the main tension and compression paths leading to a deeper understanding of lightweight results. Natural structures such as trees can also be understood in another way, highlighting the structural principles at the root, leaf, treetop or even the entire tree. Nowadays, technical lightweight solutions can be found with different methods, including the soft kill option developed at the KIT 20 years ago. The method resembles that of the biological mineralization process of living bone and results in structures that can be seen as optimized lightweight design proposals. The comparisons of those structures with the state-of-the-art designs used in the industry and with those found by the force cone method indicate the high potential of the new method. For the confi rmation of the basic rules and principles, different assembly positions of force and supports as well as different types of supports, such as fi xed supports or torsion anchors, have been analyzed. Keywords: Force cone method, lightweight structure, topology design. INTRODUCTIONIn mechanical engineering, a design needs to meet several demands. At fi rst, the design needs to withstand the given tasks with regard to applied loads and the durability during its lifetime. In addition to optical issues, nowadays the weight often counts the most. With the increasing energy costs, the weight reduction within mechanical constructions gets more and more importance. Thus, almost everything has to be lightweight.In nature there are further reasons for lightweight designs. Running faster than someone makes hunting more effective or prevents from being eaten. Low weight enables fl ying and consequently unlocks new territory. Million years of evolution brought up an advanced degree of lightweight optimization. Several starting points exist, e.g. the skeleton as the structural framework of many species. The framework is built up of bones, muscles and sinews, resembling the fi rst step of the lightweight design. The second step can be found with a closer look at the bones. The bone material is placed perfectly in correlation with the force fl ow. The highly loaded zones are fi lled with a trabecular bone, also called spongiform bone, which is a micro-framework of very fi ne small struts of the bone.With the soft kill option (SKO), the lightweight principle of the bone growth was transferred into techni...

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“…With given design spaces and the load and support boundary conditions the method finds optimized topology designs which can be used as design proposals [1].…”

Section: Soft Kill Optionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The fins of the lamella structure that can be seen in part A of figure 1 are oriented in the main stress directions. This framework structure instead of solid material reduces the weight [1].…”

Section: Soft Kill Optionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Force Cone Method: a new thinking tool for lightweight structures

Mattheck¹,

Haller²

2012

WIT Transactions on Ecology and the Environment

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The Force Cone Method developed by Claus Mattheck enables computer-free topology designing and offers a profound knowledge for lightweight structures. Thus the recently developed method enhances the series of so-called thinking tools. The methods basic idea is the force distribution of a single force in an elastic plane. Symmetrically placed cones appear in front of the force and behind it. These cones intersect with 90-degree angles at primary points that quickly lead to a structural design proposal. Furthermore the method is very useful for the evaluation of structures and their lightweight potential. With the knowledge of the load case it is easy to identify main tension and compression paths leading to a deeper understanding of lightweight results. Also natural structures such as trees can be understood in another way, highlighting structural principles at the root, the leaf, the treetop or even the entire tree. Nowadays technical lightweight solutions can be found with different methods, including the Soft Kill Option (SKO) developed at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) 20 years ago. The method resembles the biological mineralization process of living bone and results in structures that can be seen as optimized lightweight design proposals. The comparisons of those structures with the state of the art designs used in the industry and with the ones found by the Force Cone Method indicate the high potential of the new method. For the confirmation of the basic rules and principles different assembly positions of force and supports as well as different types of supports, such as fixed supports or torsion anchors, have been analyzed.

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Design in Nature

Cited by 142 publications

References 12 publications

Easing cracks with the Method of Tensile Triangles

Easing cracks with the Method of Tensile Triangles

The force cone method: a new thinking tool for lightweight structures

The Force Cone Method: a new thinking tool for lightweight structures

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