Circular, tapering beams stabilize: plants

1 of 2 Indian Globe Thistle / Jayesh Bheda / License

Cantilever-like structures such as long necks and antennae of many organisms stabilize via circular, tapering structure.

Biomimicry Taxonomy

	Maintain physical integrity >
	Manage structural forces >
	Shear

Biomimetic Application Ideas

Cantilevered beams for engineering and building projects that use less material to produce.

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[Collapse all sections] Summary

"Organisms most often use beams that are circular (or elliptical) in cross section, and for these the common engineering handbooks…don't give such direct solutions. Denny (1988) faced the matter in admirably direct fashion. Some degree of taper, though, is virtually universal, for the branches of trees, for long necks and upheld tails, for archy's long, thin cockroach antennae as well as for the cat's whiskers of mehitabel (Marquis 1927)." (Vogel 2003:373)

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: Cantilevered beams for engineering and building projects that use less material to produce.

Industrial Sector(s) interested in this strategy: Structural engineering, building, waste reduction

References

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

Circular, tapering beams stabilize: plants

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