Limpets – A Biomimicry Approach

Lavanya JawaharlalDiamond Bar High School

Junior at Diamond Bar High School, CA Visited Costa Rica in April 2010 stayed in the rainforest for 1 week, near

Osa Peninsula◦ Considered to be one of the most bio-diverse

places in the world Inspired to learn more about nature

Biomimicry

Background

bio - meaning life mimesis – meaning to imitate An attempt to emulate nature’s form,

process, and ecosystem nature has already solved many of the

problems humans face today

Biomimicry

http://www.biomimicryinstitute.org/about-us/biomimic.html

Nature has had more time to evolve and change accordingly

Humans have had very little time Nature as a guide Measure, the rightness of the function

Mentor and Measure

Adam Nieman

Nature Inspired Designs

Examples

Burr

Engineering Design: Velcro Plant: has small hooks on the end

of the burr needles Mimic: hooks to create velcro Effectiveness: easy attachment for

materials

Photo Burr: http://www.mnn.com/health/fitness-well-being/photos/7-ultra-green-extreme-sports

Engineering Design: Zimbabwe building

Natural Mound: has a self-cooling system

Mimic: the building uses large chimneys like the tunnels in the termite mound

Effectiveness: uses 90% less energy to heat/cool the building

Termite Mound

http://www.portlandhouse.com.au/gallery-029.html

Member of the Mollusca Gastropoda family Are found mainly in the mid-intertidal and

sub-tidal zones Clings to rocks and uneven surfaces Have an oval-shaped shell

Limpets

Lavanya Jawaharlal, Costa Rica 2010

Three parts to a limpet1. Head-foot: contains the locomotion and

sensory reception2. Mass: contains organs3. Mantle: the outer shell protecting the

mass

Body Composition

http://www.weblearneng.com/limpet

Limpets have not been part of an engineering design

How can limpets help us?◦ The strength could be imitated to make fasteners

that are optimal and non-toxic

*Today, there are adhesives, such as epoxy and super glue, that produce excess waste and toxic

*fasteners, like suction cups, can not maintain a grip on uneven or unsmooth surfaces

holding force◦ Multi-terrain clamp◦ cap/plug

Applications

Measuring the Forceexperiment

touch a limpet, the mass and mantle stiffen as tapping increases, the holding force

increases (Smith 1991)

Response Test

To test the holding force:◦ Tied a thread around the shell◦ Used a spring scale to measure up to 50lbs

◦ Smith (1991) designed a similar experiment

Measure force of the waves ◦ Lift and drag ◦ Find the hydrodynamic forces

Simultaneously measure the holding force of limpet

Holding force:1) Use a sensor-based system connected to a

computera) Load cellsb) Strain gauges

The Ideal Experiment

Unable to complete an ideal experiment Experiment can not take place without

jeopardizing the limpet’s natural behavior Intertidal zones leave room for a large error

of measurement

Thank you teacher (Nature) for the

inspiration

http://www.biomimicryinstitute.org/ http://www.mesa.edu.au/friends/seashores/

limpets.html http://academics.smcvt.edu/dfacey/

AquaticBiology/Coastal/Limpets.html

Cites Used