RESEARCH
In order to exploit the variable stiffness logic and capacity of arthropod exoskeletons, the basic construction principles and low-level components are defined. More specifically, lobster cuticles differ from other arthropods’ in that within the characteristic structures of interconnected fibers, their pores create planar honeycomb-like structures that add additional stiffness displayed as thinner shells.
ANALYSIS
The ‘twisted plywood’ principle or Bouligand pattern principle is abstracted as a linear series of interconnected fibers. The exploration is carried out computationally and fabricated with interlocking strips of polypropylene material. By varying the distribution density of material and angles of intersection, it is possible to create an array of different components with the same overall geometry, but with varying degrees of stiffness and deformation behaviors.
