Stems resist buckling: plants

1 of 3 Cross section of rice stem / Louisa Howar.. / License

The stems of many plants resist buckling using low-density foam cores.

Biomimicry Taxonomy

	Maintain physical integrity >
	Prevent structural failure >
	Buckling

Biomimetic Application Ideas

Mimicking of 'foam' cores in design to prevent buckling in ship hull plates, communication towers, and other relevant engineered structures.

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[Collapse all sections] Summary

"Anyone who has squashed an empty metal can knows about the second form of buckling; it's called 'local buckling' or 'Brazier buckling...Local buckling does occur in biological columns--it's certainly involved in the lodging of slender crop plants in wind storms, and it can be deliberately induced in any dandelion stem. A low-density foam core reduces susceptibility, and many plants (but not dandelions!) have such cores." (Vogel 2003:378)

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: Mimicking of 'foam' cores in design to prevent buckling in ship hull plates, communication towers, and other relevant engineered structures.

Industrial Sector(s) interested in this strategy: Shipping, engineering, communications, wind energy

References

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

Stems resist buckling: plants

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