RII Track 4: Form Finding and Optimization of the Structural Foundations of Mega-Flora

基础设计已经停滞不前，停留在几十年前开发的技术上。浅基础和深基础是能源密集型和破坏性的安装，它们的形式和形状效率低下。基础设施现代化关键取决于以最少的能源和材料投资设计和制造具有强大功能的系统。这种昏昏欲睡的解决方案在于巨型花卉的根基，也就是大树。这些天然地基系统经过优化，材料用量最少，同时还能抵抗巨大的荷载。然而，人们对大根在结构稳定性中所起的作用知之甚少。新一代的基础体系可以从自然中获得灵感，但第一步是研究自然基础的形式和形状。该奖项的工作包括绘制大树根部的形状、形状和力学图。这种理解将导致新的设计范式。对巨型植物基础的基本原理的基本了解将显著提高我们设计基础的能力，这些基础需要更少的资源，更好地抵御危险，并提高生命安全。社会受益于以较低成本建造的弹性基础设施。更好的树根知识将有助于林农保护美国无价的红杉、红木和杨树宝藏。了解大自然所寻找的巨型植物基础系统的独特形状和形式，对于新结构基础的仿生工程非常重要。新一代的人工基础系统可以从这些自然系统中得到启发，但振兴基础工程的第一步是研究自然基础的拓扑和形态。我们假设，形状分析和找形优化技术可以用来识别大自然寻求优化结构稳定性的根拓扑的主要形式和形状。这些优化的形状和形式然后可以用来激励新一代仿生基础。一阶根的全局数据库与作为形状分析的输入的原位映射根相耦合。然后使用形状查找来识别最佳形状和形状。这个项目通过普林斯顿大学形式发现实验室的奖学金，通过工程学和生态学之间的协同作用，极大地促进了不同领域的知识和理解。这项研究工作将导致：(1)物理模型数据；(2)地球物理学在新问题上的应用；(3)形状分析的新应用；(4)首次使用埋藏系统的形状发现技术。受这些形状和力学启发的基础的行为将导致新的设计方法。为了进行研究，将在找形范例中衍生出新的岩土分析方法。新的埋根原位成像的验证可以转移到其他生态学和地质学问题上，就像一阶根部结构优化的形状分析改编一样。这一奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Foundation design has stagnated, stuck in technologies developed decades ago. Shallow and deep foundations are energy intensive and disruptive to install, inefficient in their form and shape. Infrastructure modernization critically depends on design and fabrication of systems with robust functionality at a minimum of energy and materials investments. The solution to this lethargy lays in the foundations of Mega-Flora, large trees. These natural foundation systems have been optimized for a minimum of materials while providing resistance to enormous loads. However, there is little understanding to the role large roots play in structural stability. A new generation of foundation systems can be inspired by nature, but the first step to is to study the form and shape of natural foundations. The work of this award includes mapping the form, shape and mechanics of the roots of large trees. This understanding will lead to new design paradigms. A fundamental understanding of the principles underlying the foundations of mega-flora will significantly improve our ability to design foundations that require less resources, better resist hazards, and improve life safety. Society benefits via resilient infrastructure constructed at less cost. Better knowledge of tree roots will aid foresters in conservation of America's priceless Sequoia, Redwood, and Aspen treasures.Understanding the unique shape and form of the foundation systems of mega-flora that nature seeks is important for biomimetic engineering of new structural foundations. A new generation of anthropogenic foundation systems can be inspired by these natural systems, but the first step to revitalizing of foundation engineering is to study the topology and morphology of natural foundations. We hypothesize that shape analysis and form-finding optimization techniques can be used identify the predominant forms and shapes of the root topologies that nature seeks to optimize structural stability. These optimized shapes and forms can then be used to inspire a new generation of biomimetic foundations. A global database of 1st order roots is coupled with in-situ mapping roots as inputs to Shape Analysis. Form Finding is then used to identify optimal form and shape. This project greatly advances knowledge and understanding across different fields with synergy between engineering and ecology via a fellowship at Princeton University's Form-Finding Laboratory. The research effort will result in: (1) physical model data; (2) application of geophysics to new problems, (3) new applications of shape analysis, and (4) the first use of form-finding techniques for buried systems. The behavior of foundations inspired by these shapes and mechanics will lead to new design methods. To perform the research, new methods for geotechnical analyses will be derived in the form-finding paradigm. Validation of novel in-situ imaging of buried roots is transferable to other problems of ecology and geology, as is adaptation of shape analysis for 1st order root structure optimization.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.