Department of Mechanical Engineering, Unit Catalogue 2010/11 |
ME40212: Biomimetics |
 Credits:
| 6 |
| Level:
| Masters |
| Period: | This unit is available in... |
| Semester 1 |
| Assessment:
| CW 100% |
| Supplementary Assessment: | Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations) |
| Requisites:
| Before taking this unit you must take ME30264 or take ME30266 |
| Description:
| Aims: To introduce the materials, structures and mechanisms of natural organisms. To show how organisms can be analysed as engineering structures using standard techniques. To extract principles of biological structures and reformulate them as engineering structures. To use concepts from biology to solve problems in engineering. Learning Outcomes: After taking this unit the student should be able to: * Understand fundamental concepts of biological design such as scaling, hierarchy of structures and materials, designing for high strains and low loads, energy conservation, adaptive design, damage control. * Understand the implications of biology for advanced engineering and product design. Skills: Problem solving; written communication; working independently - taught, facilitated and assessed. Content: Biological fibres, fillers and ceramics; composites; soft structures; inflatable structures; mechanical properties and testing; structural hierarchy; control of fracture; scaling; factors of safety; cellular materials; design of skeletons and other supportive structures; locomotion (walking, running, flying, swimming); power amplification mechanisms; senses; design of plants, prestressing; deployable structures; design of simple robots; tough materials (armour, blast containment); design for fatigue; adaptive structures; smart materials; neural networks; genetic algorithms and programming; structures made by animals and their environmental advantages; architecture. Topics for self study that could be examined. |