Bridging Biomimetics and Additive Manufacturing for Dynamic Design Solutions ^†

Abstract

Due to the dynamic behaviours often present in biological environments, biomimetics encourages solutions that can address complex design challenges more effectively. From the conceptualization to the implementation of a product, there are several phases in which prototyping is the fastest way to address eventual inaccuracies in design translations from biological mechanisms. Prototyping is also used to improve the combination options of design and materials’ specificities altogether. In most cases, additive manufacturing (AM) provides the necessary level of customization within a reasonable timeframe because they can be reprinted after adjustments in the parameters of the digital design. AM has revolutionized the fabrication process by constructing objects layer by layer through the precise deposition of materials. This approach enables meticulous control over dimensions and allows the tailored programming of properties in intricate printed objects. While traditional 3D printing produces static structures, the advent of 4D printing introduces dynamic capabilities, wherein printed objects exhibit shape-changing abilities over time in response to external stimuli, driven by passive energy mechanisms. This concept mirrors the natural phenomenon of self-assembly observed in living organisms, wherein disparate components are autonomously organized into structured forms to adapt to environmental challenges and optimize survival. Inspired by nature’s biomechanics and adaptive systems, 4D printing technologies leverage insights from biological processes, paving the way for hybrid technologies that emphasize shape adaptability and responsiveness to stimuli. Interdisciplinary collaboration plays a crucial role in harnessing diverse expertise and fostering innovation at the intersection of multiple fields and sometimes within the same project, as top-down as well as bottom-up approaches are useful. This collaborative approach enables the conceptual process of mimicking relevant properties and incorporating mechanisms of the studied biological system into design applications that effectively respond to challenges rather than inaccurate bioinspired forms and shapes that mainly inspire curiosity.