Biomimetics: Structure–Function Patterns Approach

TLDR

Understanding how structures produce functions is crucial for engineering and biomimetic design, as natural systems use efficient, low‑cost structures that act as engines or brakes, and grasping the mechanisms behind these meta‑level patterns is essential for successful biomimetic development. The authors aim to provide a pattern index that bridges biology and technology, opening avenues for deeper exploration of structure–function complexity and establishing a foundation for a new biomimetic design method. Using a TRIZ‑based analysis of 140 biological systems, the study compiles a list of recurring structure–function patterns and demonstrates that this method can model other biological systems during abstraction. The resulting pattern list yields database search keywords and abstraction clues, facilitating the connection between biology and technology and laying groundwork for a new biomimetic design method.

Abstract

Understanding the relationships between structures and functions is important for engineering design in general and for biomimetic design specifically. In nature, different structures provide a wide range of functions efficiently and with minimal costs. Based on the analyses of 140 biological systems that are derived from biomimetic sources by a TRIZ based method, we provide a list and examples of structure–function patterns that repeat in biomimetic applications. These patterns are presented through a technical lens and a complete system model, serving as engines or brakes of the biological system, exploiting energy sources or blocking them, respectively. This list of patterns serves as an index of clues that open doors for further investigation of the complexity of these relations. Understanding the mechanisms behind these meta-level patterns is required for a successful biomimetic design process. The list provides both keywords for biological databases search and clues for abstraction of biological texts. The TRIZ based method that has been used for this study can be further used for modeling other biological systems during the abstraction stage of the biomimetic design process. Thus, we offer a bridge between biology and technology and set a foundation for a new biomimetic design method.