Web absorbs impacts: spiders

1 of 2 Spider web with dew drops / Mike Bitzenh.. / License

Webs of araneid spiders absorb impacts via microscopic engineering.

Biomimicry Taxonomy

	Maintain physical integrity >
	Manage structural forces >
	Impact

Biomimetic Application Ideas

Materials, buildings, fabrics that can absorb impact Fence between two highways can absorb the impact of a vehicle

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[Collapse all sections] Summary

This strategy inspired the web furniture system sketched by Linda Dong, a sophomore industrial design student at Carnegie Mellon University. "How can we create furniture using the least amount of material and manufacturing? The web is inspired by the strong and lightweight nature of spider webs. Using only tension from string, these pieces can hold their structure easily without additional glue or fasteners." Her sketch won the AskNature Student Design Sketch Competition on the basis of clear rendering, attention to product lifecycle and sustainability, and inspiration from nature (see Gallery).

"Spiders provide their nets with many microscopic engineering inventions to prepare the structure for the impact force of their prey or other intruders; webs of araneid spiders have several structural devices designed to absorb the impact energy without breaking the entire structure." (Pallasmaa 1995:81)

About the inspiring organism

Araneae
Araneae

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

Bioinspired products and application ideas

Application Ideas: Materials, buildings, fabrics that can absorb impact, such as a fence between two highways can absorb the impact of a vehicle.

Industrial Sector(s) interested in this strategy: Manufacturing, construction, clothing, transportation

References

Pallasmaa, J. 1995. Animal architecture. Helsinki: Museum of Finnish Architecture. 126 p.

Web absorbs impacts: spiders

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