Helical tensegrity as a structural mechanism in human anatomy

Scarr, Graham

doi:10.1016/j.ijosm.2010.10.002

Cited by 23 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 74 publications

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“…Biological systems usually integrate several structure-function patterns that create complex functional mechanisms. An example for intertwined patterns in the same system is the blood arteries that have a tubular structure that channels the blood whereas its walls are made of elastic helical collagen that protects it from the blood pressure [65,81]. (4) "Front-end" index to thorough studies-The structure-function patterns may serve as a "front-end" index to thorough studies such the one performed by Gorb [20].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Helical forms appear in crystalline materials, seed pods, and plant tendrils. They are the base structure of the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and appear frequently in the human body [65]. The helical structure is associated with mechanical efficiency.…”

Section: Helical Structurementioning

confidence: 99%

“…The helix resists circumferential and longitudinal stresses while an optimum fiber angle of 55 (axial) balances both these stresses [65]. An array of helical fibers under pressure resists torsion deformation and bends smoothly without kinking.…”

Section: Helical Structurementioning

confidence: 99%

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Biomimetics: Structure–Function Patterns Approach

Cohen

Reich

Greenberg

2014

Journal of Mechanical Design

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Understanding the relationships between structures and functions is important for engineering design in general and for biomimetic design specifically. In nature, different structures provide a wide range of functions efficiently and with minimal costs. Based on the analyses of 140 biological systems that are derived from biomimetic sources by a TRIZ based method, we provide a list and examples of structure–function patterns that repeat in biomimetic applications. These patterns are presented through a technical lens and a complete system model, serving as engines or brakes of the biological system, exploiting energy sources or blocking them, respectively. This list of patterns serves as an index of clues that open doors for further investigation of the complexity of these relations. Understanding the mechanisms behind these meta-level patterns is required for a successful biomimetic design process. The list provides both keywords for biological databases search and clues for abstraction of biological texts. The TRIZ based method that has been used for this study can be further used for modeling other biological systems during the abstraction stage of the biomimetic design process. Thus, we offer a bridge between biology and technology and set a foundation for a new biomimetic design method.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Helical Structurementioning

confidence: 99%

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Biomimetics: Structure–Function Patterns Approach

Cohen

Reich

Greenberg

2014

Journal of Mechanical Design

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“…In human anatomy and physiology, helical structures are common and observed at different scale levels from nucleotides and bases in DNA up to the adventitia of blood vessels (Holzapfel, 2008;Scarr, 2011), the urinary system, and the intestinal tract (Carey, 1920;Gabella, 1987). Left-and righthanded helical patterns are observed in the epithelium during formation of the esophagus and trachea in the early embryo of pigs (Carey, 1920).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Parametric elastic analysis of coupled helical coils for tubular implant applications: Experimental characterization and numerical analysis

Huo¹,

Rojas²,

Bohlin³

et al. 2014

Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials

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“…The helices provide an energy-efficient solution to close-packing in molecular biology, a common motif in protein construction, and a readily observable pattern at many size levels throughout the body. The helices are described in a variety of anatomical structures, suggesting their importance to structural biology and manual therapy [14].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%