Description
WIT Press Compliant Structures in Nature and Engineering 2005 Edition by C.H. Jenkins
Nature is the grand designer and human engineers have taken great motivation from it since the earliest of times. This book celebrates structural compliance in nature and human technology. Examples of compliant structures in nature abound, from the walls of the smallest cell, to the wings of the condor, to the tail of the gray whale. The subject of compliant structures in nature and engineering is timely and important, albeit quite broad and challenging. A concise summary of the important features of these interesting structures, this volume demonstrates, wherever possible, a mapping between naturally compliant structures and the promise and opportunity commensurate in human engineering. Table of Contents : Section I - Compliant Structures in Nature Chapter 1: Compliant structures and materials in animals Chapter 2: Compliance in plants Section II - Compliant Materials Chapter 3: Reinforced polyurethane flexible foams Chapter 4: Electroactive polymers as artificial muscles Section III - Compliant Mechanics Chapter 5: Mechanics of compliant structures Section IV - Compliant Structures in Engineering Chapter 6: Pressurized membranes in nature, technology and engineering Chapter 7: Rope and rope-like structures Chapter 8: Flexible-wing-based micro air vehicles Chapter 9: Compliant habitats Chapter 10: Gossamer spacecraft Section V - Compliant Structure Design Chapter 11: Design of compliant structures