A4.2 - C2B Longchamps

1. John Longchamps
Denise DeLuca
Biomimetic Design
MCAD | Summer 2015
A4.2 Challenge to Biology
1.1 Identify
Design: A sustainable hydrophobic jacket that is rated for moderate temperatures.
Functions:
 The outer layer must remain completely hydrophobic
 Must be rated for moderately cool temperatures down to 32 degrees Fahrenheit
Conditions:
 The jacket will be worn mostly in temperate urban areas during rainy spring and fall seasons.
1.2 Translate
Biological Functions: hydrophobic, durability, ease of fit, temperature regulation
 How does nature produce hydrophobic surfaces?
Biological Conditions: water (rain), airborne particulate, varying temperatures
 What kind of environments in nature have water?
1.3 Discover (bullets below are paraphrased from AskNature)
How does nature leverage hydrophobic material properties in wet or rainy environments?
 Lichen uses hydrophobic surfaces to allow gas exchange in saturated conditions
 Morpho butterflies shed water and dirt via hydrophobic microstructures on wing materials
 The feathers of penguins prevent water from penetrating to the skin due to their stiff, tightly
packed structure
 “When diving, the penguin requires a thin, smooth and waterproof coat with no trapped air
(positive buoyancy would be a big disadvantage to an active swimming hunter). It achieves this
by using muscles attached to the shaft of the feather to 'lock down' the feathers to create a
water-tight barrier.”

2. John Longchamps
Denise DeLuca
Biomimetic Design
MCAD | Summer 2015
Images: asknature.org

3. John Longchamps
Denise DeLuca
Biomimetic Design
MCAD | Summer 2015
1.4 Abstract
Technical Strategies:
 Utilize hydrophobic materials in a way that allows for gas exchange (air flow) in saturated (rainy)
conditions
 Shed water via hydrophobic outer layer of jacket by tightly packing woven fibers used in the
creation of patterned textiles
1.5 Emulate
Design Concept:
 A textile will be developed that tightly weaves lance-shaped fibers into an evenly arranged
pattern to create an impermeable outer layer for the jacket.
1.6 Evaluate
 The woven pattern of the outer shell textile aligns with the principle of “shape rather than
material.”
 The then internal down feather layer aligns with the principle of “locally attuned and
responsive.”
2.1 Identify
Design: A sustainable puncture-resistant jacket.
Functions:
 Must have exceptional durability including tensile strength and puncture resistance
Conditions:
 The jacket will be worn in urban environments that contain concrete, brick, steel, and wood
surfaces and structures that may have sharp edges, and could cause damage to non-resilient
materials.
2.2 Translate
Biological Functions: durability, structural impermeability
 How does nature produce durable materials?
 How does nature leverage durable materials?
Biological Conditions: sharp forms within the environment that can puncture materials and tissue.
 What kind of natural environments have sharp objects and organisms that resist puncture?

4. John Longchamps
Denise DeLuca
Biomimetic Design
MCAD | Summer 2015
2.3 Discover (bullets below are paraphrased from AskNature)
How does nature resist puncture from sharp objects?
 The leaves of grasses resist crosswise tearing due to their composite character
 Leaves of brown algae survive extreme mechanical battering because of their sandwiched
texture
 The hooves of horses resist cracking by having braided filaments of keratin in horizontal sheets
punctuated vertically by thin, hollow tubes
 The spicules of sponges help prevent cracking via their long, thin shape and orientation
transverse to load direction
Image: https://instruction.cvhs.okstate.edu/Histology/HistologyReference/HRHoofframe.htm
2.4 Abstract
Technical Strategies:
 Weave textile that resists vertical and horizontal tearing due to braided fibers punctuated by
vertical nanotubes
 Sandwich the finished textiles described above in layers to create resistance to force

5. John Longchamps
Denise DeLuca
Biomimetic Design
MCAD | Summer 2015
2.5 Emulate
Design Concept:
 The jacket will utilize a robust outer layer comprised of sandwiched sheets of deliberately
arranged woven textile to resist puncture.
2.6 Evaluate
 The woven pattern of the outer shell textile aligns with the principle of “shape rather than
material.”
3.1 Identify
Design: A sustainable temperature regulating jacket specialized for moderate temperatures.
Functions:
 Must be rated for moderately cool temperatures down to 32 degrees Fahrenheit
Conditions:
 During spring and fall, temperatures consistently rise above 60 degrees, therefore there must be
ventilation for the wearer who will expect a comfortable internal jacket temperature while they
are staying dry in the jacket.
3.2 Translate
Biological Functions: hydrophobic, durability, ease of fit, temperature regulation
 How does nature regulate temperature?
Biological Conditions: water (rain), airborne particulate, varying temperatures
 What kind of environments in nature have varying temperatures?
3.3 Discover (bullets below are paraphrased from AskNature)
How does nature regulate temperature?
 Silk moth cocoons allow carbon dioxide to diffuse out but not in and regulate temperature
through calcium oxalate hydrate crystals and cocoon architecture.

6. John Longchamps
Denise DeLuca
Biomimetic Design
MCAD | Summer 2015
 The skin of elephants allows them to fine-tune thermal regulation via ‘hot spots’, patches of skin
that are highly vascularized.
 "By directing their blood supply near the surface of small patches of skin scattered around their
bodies, elephants can lose heat rapidly, allowing them to fine-tune their internal temperature."
(Gray 2010)
Image: https://instruction.cvhs.okstate.edu/Histology/HistologyReference/HRHoofframe.htm
3.4 Abstract
Technical Strategies:
 Create textile architecture that emulates high-density vascularity
3.5 Emulate
Design Concept:
 The jacket’s outer layer will downregulate temperature through utilizing outer layer textiles that
regulate temperature via fiber architecture. High density vascularity, such as that found in
elephant skin will be emulated in the form of laterally suspended micro tubes woven in to the
primary textile fiber in strategically placed “hot-spots” – this will also downregulate
temperature. The jacket will have a thin internal down feather layer to upregulate temperatures
down to and including 32 degrees Fahrenheit.
3.6 Evaluate
 The woven pattern of the outer shell textile aligns with the principle of “shape rather than
material.”
 The emulation of elephant skin vascularity aligns with the principle of redundancy.

7. John Longchamps
Denise DeLuca
Biomimetic Design
MCAD | Summer 2015
Final Design
Total Biomimetic Design Strategies to Achieve Desired Functionality:
The final sustainable jacket design is puncture-resistant, hydrophobic, and temperature-regulating.
Puncture resistance is achieved by weaving fibers into braids punctuated by laterally positioned micro-
tubes. Sandwiched textile layers create additional resistance to force. Finally, the jacket’s outer-layer
downregulates temperature using laterally suspended micro tubes woven in to the primary textile fiber
in strategically placed “hot-spots.” Temperature is upregulated using a thin internal down feather layer.