Searching for Bionics Structural Forms Optimization

Abstract

The architectural design becomes an interdisciplinary process while the architectural forms, due to their various criteria, are more and more often created as a result of conducted optimization (simulated processes - "form follow process"). Activities that mimic the processes occurring in nature seem to be of particular interest. The inspirations with observed structures in nature shaped under the influence of loads acting on them constitute an interesting aspect of the search for optimization. The material and energy consumption were minimized through the evolution of structures and their adaptation to the environment. Therefore, such processes can serve as important patterns in the pursuit of building objects, effectively adapted to the location conditions, as an urban ecosystem element in accordance with the idea of sustainable development. In modern architecture, research is conducted using mathematical models in the search for optimal forms, based on the patterns of structures observed in nature. The article presents an analysis of a number of examples of bionic architecture in terms of structure and material. In addition, own model studies of selected bionic and geometrical structural forms were presented. The aim of the analysis at hand was to conduct optimization searches for the shaped bionic rod structures, selected due to the criterion of minimum mass. Among the analyzed structures, a noticeable effectiveness of forms transferred from nature was observed, which indicates the need for further research in this area.