Deep-sea sponge geometry strengthens metamaterials and suppresses flow-driven vibrations
Researchers from UC Berkeley and Harvard have developed new metamaterials inspired by the skeletal structure of the Venus' flower basket deep-sea sponge. This design allows for simultaneous optimization of structural resilience and fluid management, offering potential advancements for lightweight engineering systems.
Why it matters
This bioinspired engineering breakthrough provides a new framework for creating high-performance materials that can withstand complex environmental stresses.
by Marni Ellery, University of California - Berkeley
edited by Sadie Harley , reviewed by Robert Egan
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:
Add as preferred source Bioinspired design concept and simulation-driven development of multifunctional metamaterials. Left: The deep-sea sponge Euplectella aspergillum, which inspired the lattice architecture. Center: Structural finite element analysis (FEA) and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations used to evaluate mechanical and fluid-dynamic performance. Right: Example applications of bioinspired metamaterials in lightweight, flow-interacting engineering systems. Credit: Laser Thermal Lab, UC Berkeley Along the vast ocean floor lives a species of glass sponge known as Venus' flower basket. Though delicate-looking, its exterior belies an exceptionally strong, lightweight skeleton that has intrigued scientists for the past 185 years.
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