Date of Award
12-2025
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Mechanical Engineering
Committee Chair/Advisor
Dr. Cameron Turner
Committee Member
Dr. Satchit Ramnath
Committee Member
Dr. Chris Mabey
Abstract
Nature has evolved solutions to survival challenges over millions of years. These solutions, when studied and applied to engineering, can lead to more innovative and sustainable technologies—a process known as bio-inspired design. This approach has influenced designs such as energy-efficient buildings modeled after termite mounds and high-speed trains shaped like bird beaks. However, despite the abundance of biological ideas, engineers often face challenges in identifying which natural strategies are most applicable and in translating them effectively into technical designs. This research examines why certain nature-inspired ideas are successful in engineering, while many others are not. Rather than simply collecting biological concepts, the study focuses on identifying characteristics that make some analogies more likely to be adopted in real-world engineering applications.
A step-by-step framework was developed for this purpose. It begins by analyzing engineering products that claim bio-inspiration, breaking them into fundamental functions and key performance elements. These are then matched to biological strategies using the AskNature database. The comparison assesses how well the biological function aligns with engineering needs in terms of mechanism and performance. Ten case studies were evaluated using this method. The findings suggest that analogies that are structurally clear, simple, and related to energy or material flows are more often adopted. In contrast, those that are overly complex or loosely connected to the design objective are rarely implemented.
This work bridges the gap between biological strategies and engineering needs by clarifying the criteria for selecting usable analogies. It also demonstrates how existing tools for bio-inspired design can be integrated more effectively, helping engineers make smarter, more sustainable design choices.
Recommended Citation
Singh, Shubhendra Pratap, "Investigating the Types of Analogies Adopted in Bio-Inspired Design-By-Analogy" (2025). All Theses. 4781.
https://open.clemson.edu/all_theses/4781
Included in
Biomechanical Engineering Commons, Computer-Aided Engineering and Design Commons, Electro-Mechanical Systems Commons