Course content

The goal of this course is to study how the bioinspired solutions can be developed and applied to engineering problems. Classic bioinspired engineering solutions will be introduced. Emphasis is placed on the fundamental methodology of bioinspired design and engineering. Significant attention is given to the mechanics and 3D printing that are the necessary tools to explore those bioinspired solutions and therefore solving challenging engineering problems and leading to engineering innovations. Working as a member in an interdisciplinary team is strongly encouraged in bioinspired engineering.

Learning outcome

Knowledge:

• Knowledge about working principles of bioinspired design and biomimetic design.
• Understanding of the classic bioinspired engineering solutions: nacre inspired composite materials, biological suture inspired composite interfaces, plant cells inspired lightweight materials, lobster-claw inspired tough materials.

Skills:

• Ability to derive analytical models to predict mechanical properties of natural materials.
• Ability to extract design principles experimentally, and solve problems of bioinspired engineering.
• Perform numerical study by using commercial FEA software (e.g. ABAQUS) to uncover the fundamental mechanisms of natural materials.

General competence:

• Good understanding for design principles of fundamental elements in nature.
• Entry-level ability to obtain bioinspired solutions and biomimetic design.

Learning methods and activities

Lectures, group discussions, and project-based reports will be the main teaching methods and activities. The students will perform numerical simulations and 3D printing in lab on different projects and topics discussed in class. The lectures and projects are in English when students who do not speak Norwegian take the course. If the teaching is given in English, the projects will be given in English only. In this case the students also have to submit reports in English. The course will be taught in hybrid style.

Further on evaluation

Portfolio assessment is the basis for the assessment in the course. The portfolio includes project 1 (20%), project 2 (20%) and project 3 (60%). The results for the parts are given in %-scores, while the entire portfolio is assessed with "pass/fail". For a re-take of the assessment, all parts of the assessment during the course must be re-taken." (1) Project 1 has to be delivered at the end of the first month. (2) Project 2 has to be delivered at the end of the second month. (3) Project 3 has to be delivered at the end of the course.

Recommended previous knowledge

• Experience with ABAQUS and Matlab/Python is an advantage.

Course materials

Lecture notes, journal articles, slides and tutorials.