Research Explorer

Project

Design from nature: study of the seahorse skeleton and its possible application in industrial design.
Code
3G013709
Duration
01 January 2009 → 31 December 2014
Funding
Research Foundation - Flanders (FWO)
Research disciplines
  • Medical and health sciences
    • Biomechanics
    • Biomechanics
    • Biomechanics
  • Engineering and technology
    • Construction engineering
    • Earthquake engineering
    • Geotechnical and environmental engineering
    • Water engineering
    • Wind engineering
    • Design theories and methods
    • Mechanics
    • Other mechanical and manufacturing engineering
Keywords
geometry seahorse micro-CT morphology skeleton biomechanics finite elements
 
Project description
 

Through milions of years of evolution organisms have finetuned their design to their environment, often yielding elegant solutions to problems similar to engineering ones. Seahorses have a stiff bony skeleton, yet their tail remains extremely flexible. This project will investigate the morphology and biomechanics of the tail skeleton of seahorses (strenght, mobility and prehension) and look for engineering applications.