Multifunctional Bio-Inspired Design (MBID)

MBID is a front-end ideation framework for rapidly generating early-stage bio-inspired multifunctional technologies. The framework comprises five components, namely

BIKAS: Bio-inspired Knowledge Acquisition and Simulacrum, a knowledge database of around 50 functional biological (morphological) features represented by their structure-function relationship.
Domain Integrated Design (DID): A method based on the classification of morphological features by their common/shared geometric feature characteristics. These geometric feature characteristics are named as DOMAINS. The integration of geometric features from these classified DOMAINS leads to innovative multifunctional structural solutions.
Meta-level design parameters: Quantitative parameters for the selection between the morphological features that exhibit the same function and have a similar geometric feature characteristic (DOMAIN).
Expandable Domain Integration Design (xDID): An extension of DID and a model representation of the ideation system.
Verification: Generation of unique multifunctional bio-inspired conceptual designs for verification of the system.

BIKAS

Online interactive web application: BIKAS

BIKAS, abbreviated as Bio-inspired Knowledge Acquisition and Simulacrum, is a knowledge database developed to represent functions exhibited by biological features at their embodiment-level, i.e. at their physical structure level. The function exhibited by the biological features is defined as a combination of integrated structure and structural strategy. The integrated structure here is defined as the description of the multiscale structure.

Biological Features: The morphological and anatomical features observed in plant and animal kingdoms.
Biological Feature characteristics: Describe a feature’s appearance, apparent form, or physical trait.
Integrated Structure: represents the physical description of a multiscale structure (e.g., Micro/ Nanostructure, Macrostructure, the presence of wax layers on the Structure, etc.)
Structural Strategy: represents the integrated structural configuration (e.g., arrangement of the micro/nanostructure, packing of the micro/nanostructure, orientation of micro/nanostructure, symmetry, asymmetry, or patterns of tessellations, etc.) and changes in the structural configuration due to stimulus. Stimulus is by the other interacting elements connected to the structure (e.g., erection of scales, change in skin compliance, etc.)

Velivela, P.T. and Zhao, Y.F., 2023. BIKAS: Bio-Inspired Knowledge Acquisition and Simulacrum—A Knowledge Database to Support Multifunctional Design Concept Generation. Data Intelligence, pp.1-28. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1162/dint_a_00240

DID and x DID

Domain Integrated Design (DID) is a method that facilitates the classification and mapping of biological features that exhibit various functions.

Classification: The biological features are classified by their feature characteristics into their respective geometric designations named as Domains. The domains are namely, Surfaces, Cellular Structures, Shapes and Cross-sections. Domains represent different biological features performing various functions with a common geometric designation. Integration of the geometries from these domains results in the generation of multifunctional and multiscale conceptual designs.
Mapping: The mapping of biological features to their respective tissue of origin initiates the search for alternative materials that replicate these biological properties effectively

Expandable Domain Integrated Design (xDID): The sheer variety of the biological features makes it impossible to classify them into a specific set of domains. Expandable domain integrated design (xDID) is an approach that facilitates the expansion by defining microdomains under each domain. For example, cellular structures can be further classified by the type of connections, such as beam-based connections and face-based connections.

Velivela, P.T. and Zhao, Y.F., 2022. A Comparative Analysis of the State-of-the-Art Methods for Multifunctional Bio-Inspired Design and an Introduction to Domain Integrated Design (DID). Designs, 6(6), p.120. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/designs6060120
Velivela, P.T. and Zhao, Y.F., 2023. Supporting Multifunctional Bio-Inspired Design Concept Generation through Case-Based Expandable Domain Integrated Design (xDID) Model. Designs, 7(4), p.86. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/designs7040086

Meta-level design parameters

Meta-level design parameters are quantitative parameters that aid in the selection of biological features that have the same function and belong to the same domain or common/shared geometric characteristic. For example, sharkskin and dolphin skin exhibit the same function and belong to the same domain. Similarly, the pomelo’s peel and the woodpecker’s beak exhibit the same function and belong to the same domain.

Velivela, P.T., Ridard, A. and Zhao, Y.F., 2024. Parameters for selecting biological features in multifunctional bio-inspired design: a convergent evolution approach. Bioinspiration & Biomimetics. DOI: 10.1088/1748-3190/ad3ed3

How does this work?

Based on the functional design requirements, biological/morphological features (multiscale structures) from different domains are combined to generate novel, unique, multifunctional bio-inspired conceptual designs. The following are the novel designs developed using the DID method.

A combination of Kingfisher’s beak from the cross-sections domain and barbs on the porcupine quill from the Surfaces domain resulted in the generation of a painless suture pin/leg design.
A combination of sharkskin and dolphin skin from the surface domain and honeycomb structure from the cellular structures domain resulted in the generation of skins for effective drag reduction and reduction in weight.
A combination of Camel turbinates from the cross-section domain and micro-bumps on the Namib desert beetle from the surface domain resulted in the generation of structures for effective heat transfer and low-pressure drop potentially used in aerospace applications.
A combination of the woodpecker’s beak and the pomelo peel from the cellular structures domain and snakeskin from the domain of the surface resulted in the generation of a non-pneumatic tire design for effective impact resistance and friction management.

More detailed information about the designs can be accessed via the author’s portfolio

Velivela, P.T., Letov, N., Liu, Y. and Zhao, Y.F., 2021. Application of domain integrated design methodology for bio-inspired design case study of suture pin design. Proceedings of the Design Society, 1, pp.487-496. DOI: 10.1017/pds.2021.49
Velivela, P.T., Ridard, A. and Zhao, Y.F., 2024. Parameters for selecting biological features in multifunctional bio-inspired design: a convergent evolution approach. Bioinspiration & Biomimetics. DOI: 10.1088/1748-3190/ad3ed3
Sarabhai S, Velivela PT, Zhao YF, Sanchez F, Kibsey M. Comparative Study of the Flow and Thermal Characteristics of Non-Stochastic Lattice and Bio-Inspired Multi-Scale Structures for Gas Turbine Engine Applications. InTurbo Expo: Power for Land, Sea, and Air 2023 Jun 26 (Vol. 87066, p. V11BT23A011). American Society of Mechanical Engineers. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1115/GT2023-103790
Velivela, P.T., Letov, N., Kong, L. and Zhao, Y.F., 2023. A Case Study of Multifunctional Non-Pneumatic Tire Design For The Validation of Meta-Level Design Parameter In Domain Integrated Design (DID) Method. Proceedings of the Design Society, 3, pp.39-48. DOI: 10.1017/pds.2023.5

Authors

This research was carried out by Pavan Tejaswi Velivela under the supervision of Prof. Yaoyao Fiona Zhao in the Mechanical Engineering department at McGill University.

Funding

This research work is supported by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada Discovery Grant RGPIN-2018-05971 and MEDA (McGill Engineering Doctoral Award).

Contact

Corresponding Author: Prof. Yaoyao Fiona Zhao, Director Additive Design and Manufacturing Laboratory (ADML) (Email: yaoyao.zhao@mcgill.ca
Author: Pavan Tejaswi Velivela (Email: pavan.velivela@mail.mcgill.ca; pavan.velivela90@gmail.com) and Personal Portfolio
For more information, visit Additive Design and Manufacturing Laboratory ADML

The land I work at is situated on the traditional territory of the Kanien’kehà:ka, a place which has long served as a site of meeting and exchange amongst many First Nations, including the Kanien’kehá:ka of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, Huron/Wendat, Abenaki, and Anishinaabeg.