Leaves resist bending: trees

1 of 1 Beech leaves showing structural support / liz west / License

The leaves of many plants are flat yet flexible surfaces that resist bending thanks to structural features and bracing from below.

Biomimicry Taxonomy

	Maintain physical integrity >
	Protect from abiotic factors >
	Wind

Biomimetic Application Ideas

Photovoltaic panels that flex with environmental conditions Roofs with some ability to flex, thereby requiring fewer support girders or trusses

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[Collapse all sections] Summary

"The main use of flat surfaces in nature consists of photosynthetic structures such as leaves. These also are well braced beneath; most leaves seem to circumvent problems of loads perpendicular to their surfaces simply by flexing or reorienting in winds (fig. 1.5). Quite a few leaves of various lineages (mostly monocots) use a slight longitudinal V-fold to get adequate flexural stiffness, which must also give them nicely low torsional stiffness. Other leaves use another deviation from flatness, crosswise fan folding, discussed by Niklas (1992). Figure 21.8 shows a few such schemes." (Vogel 2003:439)

[Caption for Figure 21.8 in Vogel 2003: "Thin leaf surfaces avoid bending in various ways. Veins may provide supporting trusses (a), the whole leaf may be cambered lengthwise (b), or pleats can make a ridge-and-valley self-trussing system (c)."]

About the inspiring organism

Plantae
Plantae

Organism/taxonomy data provided by:
Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2008 Annual Checklist

Bioinspired products and application ideas

Application Ideas: Photovoltaic panels that flex with environmental conditions; roofs with some ability to flex, thereby requiring fewer support girders or trusses.

Industrial Sector(s) interested in this strategy: Energy, construction, nanotechnology

Vibro-Wind - Wind harvesting

Elf Shelter Rainwater Collector - Rainwater collector

References

Steven Vogel. 2003. Comparative Biomechanics: Life's Physical World. Princeton: Princeton University Press. 580 p.

Leaves resist bending: trees

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