Ain Shams University Faculty of Engineering Architectural Department Structural Biomimetic Integration in the Formation of Load-Bearing Skins By Nada Mohamed Mohsen Ibrahim Abd El Fattah B.Sc. Architecture, Ain Shams University, 2010 A thesis Submitted to the Faculty of Engineering in Partial Fulfillment of Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Architecture Under Supervision of Dr. Ruby Morcos Associate Professor of Architecture Faculty of Engineering Ain Shams University Prof. Dr. Khaled Mohamed Dewidar Professor of Architecture Faculty of Engineering Ain Shams University Prof. Dr. Mostafa Refaat Ismail Professor of Architecture Faculty of Engineering Ain Shams University Cairo, Egypt 2015 STATEMENT This thesis is submitted to Ain Shams University for the degree of Master of Science in Architecture. The work included in this thesis was accomplished by the author at the Department of Architecture, Faculty of Engineering, Ain Shams University, during the period from “2010 to 2015”. No part of this thesis has been submitted for a degree or a qualification at any other university or institute. Name: Nada Mohamed Mohsen Signature: Date: BOARD OF EXAMINERS Ain Shams University Faculty of Engineering Architectural Department Researcher Name: Nada Mohamed Mohsen Ibrahim Thesis Title: “Structural Biomimetic Integration in the Formation of Load-Bearing Skins” Degree: Master of Science in Architecture Board Signature Prof. Dr. Ahmed Reda (Examiner) Abdin Professor of Architecture Faculty of Engineering Cairo University Prof. Dr. Akram Farouk (Examiner) Mohamed Professor of Architecture Faculty of Engineering Ain Shams University Prof. Dr. Khaled (Supervisor) Mohamed Dewidar Professor of Architecture Faculty of Engineering Ain Shams University Prof. Dr. Mostafa Refaat (Supervisor) Ismail Professor of Architecture Faculty of Engineering Ain Shams University Post Graduate Studies Approval Stamp The Research was approved on: / / Faculty Council Approval University Council Approval / / / / ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS First of all, I would like to thank ALLAH for his generosity, blessings and giving me power, health and patience to finish this piece of work. May He always guide me to help my country and widen my knowledge to serve humanity. My deepest appreciation and thanks to my dearest kind supervisors and examiners. Words aren’t enough to thank you for your great support and limitless help. Thank you Dr. Ruby Morcos, Prof. Dr. Khaled Dewidar, Prof. Dr. Mostafa Refaat, Prof. Dr. Ahmed Reda Abdin, Prof. Dr. Akram Farouk. Nothing could be enough to show my respect and gratitude. This thesis is a tiny thank you to my beloved mother Omaima Awad may ALLAH rest her soul in peace, my dear father Mohamed Mohsen and my dear sister Nesreen, for their limitless support and care. I sincerely appreciate my dear colleagues in PGESCo Civil Department for their help and constant support in load calculations: Mona Abd El Wanis and Mohamed El Melligy. I would also like to thank Fab Lab Egypt team for their support in 3D printing. Special thanks to my supportive and understanding friends who helped and believed in me: Noha Hussein, Yasser El- Harmil, Ahmed Lashin, Alaa Ehab, Rim Fahmy, Nouran El Kiki, Samar El Motasem, and PGESCo Architectural Department Team. Finally, I would like to express my gratitude to everyone who supported me in bringing this thesis to light. To my mother You will always be missed. I love you. Thank you for letting me grow my wings, for letting me fly, for catching when I fall, for letting me stand when I can’t and for assuring me I can fly again. I soared even higher mom, simple because you believed. Without you, I wouldn’t have the patience to finish this piece of work. I hope I succeeded in making you feel happy and proud. To my father and sister Without you, none of my success would be possible. Your support and unconditional love and care mean the world to me. I love you. To Dr. Ahmed Mito Your FEDA talks lecture, 2013, had inspired me with this thesis idea. May God rest your soul in peace my great professor. ﱠ ﺑِ ْﺳ ِﻡ ﷲِ ﱠﺍﻟﺭ ْﺣ َﻣ ِﻥ ﱠﺍﻟﺭ ِﺣ ِﻳﻡ ْ ﱠ ْ { ﺍ ْﻗ َﺭﺃ ِﺑ ْﺎﺳ ِﻡ َﺭ ﱢﺑ َﻙ ﺍﻟ ِﺫﻱ َﺧ َﻠ َﻕ * َﺧ َﻠ َﻕ ﺍﻹِ ْﻧ َﺳ َﺎﻥ ِﻣ ْﻥ َﻋ َﻠ ٍﻕ * ْ ْ َ ﱠ ﱠ ْ ﱠ ْ ْﺍﻗ َﺭﺃ َﻭ َﺭ ﱡﺑ َﻙ ﺍﻷ ْﻛ َﺭ ُﻡ * ﺍﻟ ِﺫﻱ َﻋﻠ َﻡ ِﺑﺎﻟ َﻘ َﻠ ِﻡ * َﻋﻠ َﻡ ﺍﻹِ ْﻧ َﺳ َﺎﻥ َﻣﺎ َﻟ ْﻡ َﻳ ْﻌ َﻠ ْﻡ } [ﺍﻟﻌﻠﻕ: 5-1] TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Biomimetic Design in Architecture ................................................. 1 1.1. Introduction .............................................................................1 1.1.1. Biomimcry Definition ..........................................................1 1.1.2. Approaches to Biomimicry ..................................................3 1.1.3. Fundamentals of Natural Forms ..........................................8 1.2. Biomimcry History ..................................................................9 1.2.1. Contributors Through History ...........................................12 1.3. Different Biomimicry Applications .......................................32 1.4. Constructions Inspired from Nature ......................................36 1.4.1. Tensegrity Structures .........................................................36 1.4.2. Girder Constructions ..........................................................39 1.4.3. Curved Surfaces with Girders ............................................41 1.4.4. Between Beam and Shell Constructions ............................42 1.4.5. Arcs and Vaults ..................................................................43 1.4.6. Shells ..................................................................................46 1.4.7. Grid Shells .........................................................................47 1.4.8. Rope Constructions, Tent and Pneumatic Constructions...49 1.4.9. Folded Structures ...............................................................51 2. Natural Integrated Systems and Architecture Design Principles.. 54 2.1. Form in Nature and Form in Architectural Design ...............54 2.1.1. Material Selection Chart ....................................................56 2.2. Natural Integrated Systems ...................................................58 2.2.1. Natural Forms ....................................................................58 2.2.2. Natural Organisms Sturctural Types..................................60 2.2.3. Natural Material Behaviour ...............................................61 2.2.4. “Material – Structure – Form” Sequence in Nature ...........65 2.2.5. Natural Integrated Systems Examples ...............................67 i 2.2.5.1. Bones (Cellular Solids) ..................................................68 2.2.5.2. Trees (Fibre Structures) .................................................71 2.2.5.3. Bamboo (Fibre Structures) ............................................74 2.2.5.4. Palm Trees (Fibre Structures) .......................................75 2.3. New Materiality .....................................................................76 2.3.1. Variable Property Design (VPD) .......................................77 2.3.1.1. Variable Property Design (VPD) Applications .............77 2.3.2. Functionally Graded Materials (FGMs) ............................89 2.3.3. Variable Property Fabrication (VPF) .................................90 2.4. New Structuralism .................................................................91 2.5. The Engineering Principles of Biological Systems vs. Classical Engineering .......................................................................94 2.5.1. Architectural Examples Based on Biological Engineering Principles .......................................................................................97 2.5.1.1. Bubble High-rise ............................................................97 2.5.1.2. The Watercube ...............................................................98 2.5.1.3. Concrete Canopy, Auditorium And Movie Theater In Saint Cyprien ............................................................................101 3. Bones Morphology and Architectural Inspiration ...................... 107 3.1. Human Bones ......................................................................107 3.1.1. Bone Modelling ...............................................................108 3.1.1.1. Wolff’s Law ..................................................................108 3.1.2. Bone as an Engineering Material .....................................110 3.1.3. Femur Bone......................................................................111 3.1.3.1. Trabecular Bone ..........................................................111 3.1.3.2. Mechanical Properties .................................................114 3.1.4. Femur Bone as an Architectural Inspiration ....................115 3.2. Architectural Projects Inspired By Bones ...........................116 3.2.1. Andres Harris, Bone Inspired Structure ...........................116 ii 3.2.2. Opel GM and Mercedes Benz, Bionic Car ......................118 3.2.3. Freedom of Creation, Trabeculae ....................................120 3.2.4. School of Architecture at Saarland University, The Bowooss Bionic Inspired Research Pavilion ...............................121 3.2.5. Wilfredo Mendez, Bio-Structure Bone-Inspired Building Frame, Puerto Rico ......................................................................122 3.2.6. The Common Structural Features between The Eiffel Tower and the Femur Bone .........................................................127