PRIMA

Biologization of technology - Inspiration insect wings

An insect wing is characterized by an extremely light yet stable cellular structure and is a recurring and widespread solution in the insect world. In addition to its lightweight construction properties, the vein-like structure also controls and supplies the insect wing. Transferring this multifunctional approach from nature offers new possibilities in the design, construction and manufacture of extremely lightweight yet fault-tolerant technical structures.

PRIMA project objective

The PRIMA project aims to demonstrate the optimization of an automotive side wing mirror using the insect wing principle. To this end, the Institute of Aircraft Design at the University of Stuttgart is researching new, innovative design and manufacturing principles in collaboration with CIKONI GmbH.

By using a novel manufacturing principle in combination with additive manufacturing processes, any three-dimensional structure is to be reinforced using fiber composites. This makes it possible for the first time to produce complex bionic structures inspired by nature in a fiber composite construction.

How the basic biological principle of the insect wing works

The lattice-like insect wing consists of many branched veins, over which a fine membrane is applied. If the membrane ruptures, it can only grow to the edge of the cell and is stopped there. This allows an insect to remain able to fly even if the wing is damaged. When the insect hatches, the veins are initially mostly hollow and allow the wing to unfold. The veins are then filled and harden to stiffen the wing.

Transferring the basic principle to the automobile

This basic principle is to be used in PRIMA to reinforce plastic-based components using a fiber composite material. Carbon fibres are to be used to achieve a high degree of weight optimization. Theoretically, these have good electrical conductivity. Therefore, the contacting of additional mirror elements, such as the servomotors, is to be investigated in the sense of a multifunctional structure. If this is successful, a technical membrane can be connected to the support structure in the next step in order to realize the aerodynamic properties of the side mirror. If a tear occurs in the membrane of the side mirror during its service life, its growth should be limited to one cell of the supporting structure, as is the case with insect wings.

Optimization of vehicle production through the results of PRIMA

If this multifunctional design and manufacturing principle proves feasible, significant weight reductions and resource savings can be achieved in components for the mobility of tomorrow. On the one hand, the amount of material required is reduced by using a lightweight optimized structure and, on the other hand, the lower weight saves energy in the locomotion of the vehicle. This will make a positive contribution to protecting the environment and increasing the range of vehicles. The multifunctional structure can also be expected to reduce assembly costs. This can promote simpler overall vehicle production and provide a competitive advantage for vehicle manufacturers.