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PostHeaderIcon Applications - influence of biology on engineering

TitleApplications - influence of biology on engineering
Publication TypeJournal Article
Other Author Affiliations2006
AuthorsVincent, J. F. V.
JournalJournal of Bionic Engineering
Place Published3
Edition161-177
Issueeng
Pagination

Ideas from engineering have helped the understanding of biological organisms for thousands of years. However, the mechanical aspects of biological materials and structures can, if properly interpreted and analysed, lead to a deeper understanding of the biology of organisms. Such an approach, although always current in some form, is nevertheless subject to the vagaries of fashion and the availability of analytical techniques. At present we are in a period of upturn. Areas of interest are deployable structures (applications in aerospace), palaeontology (how little do we need to know in order to create a credible biosphere) and food science (we need a rational approach to the mechanics of food).