Authors

Alejandro Martinez, University of California, Davis
Jason DeJong, University of California, Davis
Idil Akin, Voiland College of Engineering and Architecture
Ali Aleali, New Mexico State University College of Engineering
Chloe Arson, College of Engineering
Jared Atkinson, Norges Geotekniske Institutt
Paola Bandini, New Mexico State University College of Engineering
Tugce Baser, The Grainger College of Engineering
Rodrigo Borela, College of Engineering
Ross Boulanger, University of California, Davis
Matthew Burrall, University of California, Davis
Yuyan Chen, University of California, Davis
Clint Collins, California State University, Sacramento
Douglas Cortes, New Mexico State University College of Engineering
Sheng Dai, College of Engineering
Theodore DeJong, University of California, Davis
Emanuela Del Dottore, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia
Kelly Dorgan, Dauphin Island Sea Laboratory
Richard Fragaszy, National Science Foundation
J. David Frost, College of Engineering
Robert Full, University of California, Berkeley
Majid Ghayoomi, College of Engineering and Physical Sciences
Daniel I. Goldman, Georgia Institute of Technology
Nicholas Gravish, University of California, San Diego
Ivan L. Guzman, New York City College of Technology
James Hambleton, Robert R. McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science
Elliot Hawkes, UC Santa Barbara College of Engineering
Michael Helms, Georgia Institute of Technology
David Hu, Georgia Institute of Technology
Lin Huang, Voiland College of Engineering and Architecture
Sichuan Huang, Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering
Christopher Hunt, Geosyntec Consultants, Inc.
Duncan Irschick, University of Massachusetts Amherst

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

8-1-2022

Abstract

A broad diversity of biological organisms and systems interact with soil in ways that facilitate their growth and survival. These interactions are made possible by strategies that enable organisms to accomplish functions that can be analogous to those required in geotechnical engineering systems. Examples include anchorage in soft and weak ground, penetration into hard and stiff subsurface materials and movement in loose sand. Since the biological strategies have been 'vetted' by the process of natural selection, and the functions they accomplish are governed by the same physical laws in both the natural and engineered environments, they represent a unique source of principles and design ideas for addressing geotechnical challenges. Prior to implementation as engineering solutions, however, the differences in spatial and temporal scales and material properties between the biological environment and engineered system must be addressed. Current bio-inspired geotechnics research is addressing topics such as soil excavation and penetration, soil-structure interface shearing, load transfer between foundation and anchorage elements and soils, and mass and thermal transport, having gained inspiration from organisms such as worms, clams, ants, termites, fish, snakes and plant roots. This work highlights the potential benefits to both geotechnical engineering through new or improved solutions and biology through understanding of mechanisms as a result of cross-disciplinary interactions and collaborations.

Publication Source (Journal or Book title)

Geotechnique

First Page

687

Last Page

705

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