Research Chris Broeckhoven

Abstract

Nature provides an almost inexhaustible source of inspiration for innovative designs that may help to tackle many of the world's current social, economic and environmental challenges. In accordance, the potential of bioinspiration (including biomimetics and biomimicry) has become widely recognized in academia and industry. The main hurdle preventing the field of bioinspiration from delivering its promises, however, stems from differences in tools, practices and viewpoints of its practitioners, often obstructing further development towards successful products. Nature4Nature, a unique joint effort of biologists, engineers, designers and manufacturers, will immerse young doctoral researchers (DCs) in a learning environment that fully spans the inspiration, integration and implementation aspects of bioinspired design to tackle the conceptual, methodological and practical challenges. It will provide DCs (a) with a mindset and know-how to harness biodiversity into design; (b) with the theoretical background and practical skills for transferring biological model systems into engineering designs and applications; and (c) with an attitude and competence to implement bioinspired ideas in an explicit sustainable way. Nature4Nature will focus its research activities onto one model system: how to efficiently separate solid particles from liquids. Biological filtration systems have evolved repeatedly over the earth's living history. Nature4Nature will teach DCs to make the most of this rich heritage, using it as an inspiratory source for designing and manufacturing high-throughput, clog-resisting filtering systems that can help conserving and restoring the world's aquatic habitats. By fostering a new generation of researchers operating at the interface between scientific disciplines, sectors and societal actors, Nature4Nature sets out to spur innovative practices and will aid in overcoming the barriers to implementation of bioinspiration in the design process.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Du Bois Els
• Co-promoter: Aerts Peter
• Co-promoter: Broeckhoven Chris
• Co-promoter: Van Damme Raoul
• Co-promoter: Van Wassenbergh Sam
• Co-promoter: Watts Regan
• Fellow: Hageneder Lukas
• Fellow: Krsteska Katerina

Research team(s)

• Product development

Project website

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

Some species of snakes carry horn-like appendages either on the snout or above the eyes. Interestingly, these structures have evolved independently in multiple clades of vipers (Viperidae). Pioneer herpetologists have speculated wildly on the function of these enigmatic appendages, but nobody has studied them in detail. In this project, I will test the putative role of rostral and supra-ocular horns in concealment, water uptake, mechanosensation and thermoregulation. To that end, I will carry out a combination of behavioural observations, visual modelling, vibrometry, thermography, (electron) microscopy, histology, µ-CT scanning and 3D image reconstructions, on a selection of specimens of different species. In a final step of the project, I will combine information obtained from the functional analyses with data on the distribution, ecology and natural history of viperid species (as available in the literature and online databases) to test ideas on the ecological drivers of horn evolution.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Van Damme Raoul
• Co-promoter: Broeckhoven Chris
• Co-promoter: Vanlanduit Steve
• Fellow: Banfi Federico

Research team(s)

• Functional Morphology

Project website

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

A great diversity in natural body armour has been developed by nature throughout millions of years of evolution. Body armour in animals has served as inspiration for artificial armour since ancient times and continues to be the focus of a growing number of biomimetic studies that explore its protective nature. Unfortunately, the majority of these studies often unambiguously assume that the morphological diversity in natural body armour is the resultant of an evolutionary predator-prey arms-race. Although a protective role is easily imagined, recent studies suggest that body armour is not optimised to perform a single protective function, but rather represents a multifunctional structure, shaped by trade-offs. The proposed research delves into the topic of armour multifunctionality by being the first to experimentally investigate its potential physiological role (i.e., during thermoregulation and in the prevention of water loss). For this purpose, two highly promising model systems will be used: girdled lizards and horned frogs. Thermal imaging technology and evaporimetry will be employed to measure the physiological characteristics of dermal armour and will be supplemented with cutting-edge microangio-CT to characterize the underlying vascular mechanism. The study combines form and function of natural body armour, while benefiting from state-of-the-art technology, and might ultimately serve as a source of bio-inspiration for artificial multifunctional protective materials.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Broeckhoven Chris

Research team(s)

• Functional Morphology

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

Osteoderms, bony elements embedded in the skin of various extinct and modern animals, constitute an important component of the tetrapod integumentary system. As a result, a plethora of studies have been undertaken to examine the functional significance of these enigmatic structures. Although it is generally accepted that osteoderms are part of body armour and primarily serve to defend prey against attacks from predators, virtually no experimental studies have been conducted to support this hypothesis. Instead, recent studies suggest that alternative selective pressures might have shaped the evolution of osteoderms. This study aims to reduce the present discrepancy by investigating the physiological role of osteoderms. More specifically this study examines the role of osteoderms in thermoregulation and in the prevention of water loss through the skin. By examining these physiological characteristics in a diversity of animal groups (i.e., frogs, geckoes and crocodilians), the ultimate goal of the research project is to provide more insight into the evolution of osteoderms and the conditions under which these enigmatic structures could have evolved.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Broeckhoven Chris

Research team(s)

• Functional Morphology

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

Through millions of years of evolution, nature has unfolded an array of armour types in the animal kingdom. The underlying mechanisms of natural body armour have received considerable attention in the field of biomimetics because of their potential role in serving as inspiration for artificial protective materials. Unfortunately, the majority of biomimetic studies often unambiguously assume that nature has selected the most optimal designs. Instead, the response of traits to natural selection is subject to various constrains including functional trade-offs. Hence, the current biomimetics approach might fail to fulfill the requisites of a well-designed biomimetics study and indirectly constrain the development of artificial body armour. The proposed project employs a strong ecological and evolutionary framework to investigate the effect of functional trade-offs on the evolution of body armour. Cordyline lizards are the ideal study system for a comparative and experimental analysis of body armour, because unlike other vertebrates, they display a vast amount of variation in the expression and morphology of osteoderms (i.e. body plates embedded in the skin). The study integrates evolutionary biology and functional morphology with the field of biomechanics while benefiting from state-of-the-art technology such as high-resolution micro-computed tomography scanning, 3D bioprinting and novel simulation software to ultimate put the current approach of biomimetic studies to the test.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Van Damme Raoul
• Co-promoter: Aerts Peter
• Co-promoter: Dirckx Joris
• Fellow: Broeckhoven Chris

Research team(s)

• Functional Morphology

Project website

Project type(s)

• Research Project