The dynamics of oscillating airfoils are of great interest in many research areas such as rotor dynamics and biomimetics. The results reported in this research provide an insight into the mechanics of birds’ leading edge and how the dynamic curvature of the airfoil can highly benefit the aerodynamic and propulsive performance, especially at high angles of attack. The main goal of the current work is to numerically investigate the influence of a deflecting leading edge on the propulsive coefficients and flowfield created by a plunging airfoil at a Reynolds number of 1.4 × 104 and a constant Strouhal number of 0.15 with different ( k, ℎ) combinations. Employing a RANS approach with the proposed NACA0012-IK30 airfoil, results show that dynamically deflecting the leading edge significantly improves the propulsive efficiency of the airfoil by either reducing the required power or improving the thrust production. The outcomes regarding the propulsive efficiency show a considerable increase of up to 92% when the higher nondimensional amplitude was considered.

This study investigates the internal architecture of Asian hornet nests (AHNs) using advanced imaging techniques, such as CT scanning and X-ray radiography, to understand their construction and function. The primary objective and significance of this study centre on drawing inspiration from the creative way Asian hornets construct their nests, with a particular focus on the architecture, design, functionality, and building materials of these nests. The architectural principles governing the construction of these nests, such as the arrangement of hexagonal cells, pedicels for load bearing, and adhesive materials, serve as a source of inspiration for innovative and sustainable design practices. The pedicels in Asian hornet nests play a crucial role in transferring load and ensuring stability. Additionally, AHNs’ adhesion to tree branches is essential for preventing collapse, and the pedicels provide necessary structural support. The knowledge gained from studying AHNs’ internal architecture could be applied directly to the architecture and civil engineering fields to improve structure stability and durability. The microstructure analysis of the paper-like material that hornets produce to build their nests indicates a complex and heterogeneous structure, composed of various plant fragments and fibres. This unique composition creates intricate grooves and pores, which are essential for regulating temperature and humidity levels within the outer envelope of the nest. The study of Asian hornet nests’ internal structure demonstrated that nature’s engineering principles inspire the design of durable and resilient structures in the construction industry. Civil engineers can incorporate similar principles into their designs to enhance the structural integrity and performance of buildings, bridges, and other infrastructure.

The aerodynamics of oscillating airfoils are crucial to understanding subjects such as rotor dynamics and bio-inspired flows. Unsteady airfoils have been studied extensively, but there is an overall lack of knowledge regarding newer and more complex kinematics. The present paper builds upon our modified version of the NACA0012 by numerically comparing its way of flapping with the standard flapping that is common in the literature. The comparison is conducted parametrically at a Reynolds number of 104 for two nondimensional amplitudes. Then, using a gradient-based optimization method, we search for pitching amplitudes that maximize the propulsive power and efficiency for both flapping modes. Results indicate that the proposed flapping methodology is more promising than conventional flapping, with thrust increases up to approximately 40%. Furthermore, the proposed mechanism achieves maximum propulsive power with near-optimal efficiency, a common limitation of traditional flapping airfoils.

Biomimetics is a multidisciplinary area of science studying the development of new technologies, whose source of inspiration is Nature and has given rise to new technologies inspired by biological solutions at macro and nanoscales. Successive work carried out by researchers in this field revealed that flapping wings offers not only benefits but unique aerodynamic advantages when compared to the traditional fixed-wings, especially when approaching small scales. This work presents an experimental study concerning the created vortical structures of a plunging NACA0012 airfoil subjected to an asymmetrical motion at a Reynolds number of 1500 with different reduced frequencies and nondimensional amplitudes. The asymmetric motion studied was based on a velocity triangular wave with special focus in a plunging cycle asymmetry of 75%. Over its plunging motion, the unequal ascending and descending velocities revealed that the airfoil can produce both thrust and lift simultaneously. Leading-Edge Vortex (LEV) formation and its convection over the upper surface of the airfoil was seen as a possible power reduction mechanism which could be a way to improve propulsive and energy extraction efficiencies.

Natural flight has always been the source of imagination for Mankind, but reproducing the propulsive systems used by animals that can improve the versatility and response at low Reynolds number is indeed quite complex. The main objective of the present work is the computational study of the influence of the Reynolds number, frequency, and amplitude of the oscillatory movement of a NACA0012 airfoil in the aerodynamic performance. The thrust and power coefficients are obtained which together are used to calculate the propulsive efficiency. The simulations were performed using ANSYS Fluent with a RANS approach for Reynolds numbers between 8500 and 34,000, reduced frequencies between 1 and 5, and Strouhal numbers from 0.1 to 0.4. The aerodynamic parameters were thoroughly explored as well as their interaction, concluding that when the Reynolds number is increased, the optimal propulsive efficiency occurs for higher nondimensional amplitudes and lower reduced frequencies, agreeing in some ways with the phenomena observed in the animal kingdom.

Biomimetics is an area of science that studies the development of new technologies, whose source of inspiration is Nature. Unlike traditional aircraft, animals only have one structure to create both lift and thrust, and for Humans, although in the recent years the studies in this area increased, a long way must be made to achieve their capability. The present paper focuses on the effect of the Reynolds number on the wake configuration produced by a plunging airfoil. The experimental work was performed using an airstream, that was marked with smoke, with an oscillating airfoil NACA0012, whose dimensions are 44cm and 10cm of span and aerodynamic chord, respectively. The motion prescribed for the wing is harmonic, since it very well represents the type of motion seen in Nature. Frequency and amplitude were maintained, respectively, at 1.2Hz and 2.8cm, and the wind speed range from 0.25m/s to 1.00m/s, which represents a nondimensional amplitude of 0.28, a reduced frequencies of 3.02, 1.51 and 0.75, and a Strouhal number and a Reynolds number range of, 0.07 – 0.27 and 1,500 – 6,300, respectively. Results indicate that, with the increase of the Reynolds number, the convection effects become more predominant than diffusion effects, the curvature of the wakes and the maximum effective angle of attack decrease, and time and configuration of vortex shedding change. For Re = 1,500, St = 0.27, another relevant conclusion appears; the interaction of the leading-edge vortex with the trailing-edge vortex indicates an improvement of the aerodynamic performance of this system.

Spinal cord injury continues to be, unarguably, a largely convoluted challenge of modern medicine, leaving millions of patients worldwide with devastating lifetime consequences. Currently, there are not medical treatments capable of efficiently and completely restoring lost autonomous, motor and/or sensory functions. In this context, along with the development of a next generation of biomedical platforms, the inclusion of graphene-based materials into neuroprotective and neuroregenerative strategies has potential to boost the structural and physiological recovery of the injured spinal cord. Particularly, these nanomaterials are updating important principles of tissue engineering concerning the development of biocompatible scaffolds suitable for replacing damaged neural microenvironments in a near-future scenario. In this work, a new design concept is used to fabricate graphene composites with fibrous-porous architectures able to support enhanced interactions with neural cells. In detail, electrospun nanofibres were accommodated onto the surface of reduced graphene oxide sheets to generate combinatorial 3D systems. The physiochemical and biological features of fibrous-porous constructs were associated with the properties of their nanofibrous coatings, resulting, consequently, in unique microenvironments capable of supporting highly viable, mature and interconnected neural circuits in vitro. Due to their enhanced performance, these graphene composites were further adapted to recreate the gray matter of the spinal cord, becoming a key component of a new biomimetic scaffolding methodology. In this way, for ensuring a spatial organization resembling the native spinal cord, where the center of gray matter is surrounded by white matter, the selected fibrous-porous graphene composite was incorporated within a 3D nanofibrous framework. Furthermore, specific regions of this biomimetic framework were loaded with polycaprolactone-chitosan nanofibres and polycaprolactone-graphene microfibers with the purpose of mimicking the white matter. After in vitro and ex vivo tests, the final biomimetic scaffold was then implanted into hemisected rats for 4 months, after which it was possible to observe promising neuroprotective and neuroregenerative features together with encouraging signs of forelimb function recovery. Based on these findings, the reported biomimetic graphene-based scaffolds hold potential to integrate advanced therapeutic strategies for countering spinal cord injury.

The optimized physical adhesion between bees' leg hairs and pollen grains-whereby the latter's diameter aligns with the spacing between the hairs-has previously inspired the development of a biomimetic drug dressing. Combining this optimized process with the improved natural mussels' adhesion in wet environments in a dual biomimetic process, it is herein proposed the fabrication of a natural-derived micropatterned hydrogel patch of methacrylated laminarin (LAM-MET), with enriched drug content and improved adhesiveness, suitable for applications like wound healing. Enhanced adhesion is accomplished by modifying LAM-MET with hydroxypyridinone groups, following the patch microfabrication by soft lithography and UV/vis-irradiation, resulting in a membrane with micropillars with a high aspect ratio. Following the biomimetics rational, a drug patch is engineered by combining the microfabricated dressing with drug particles milled to fit the spaces between pillars. Controlled drug release is achieved, together with inherent antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and enhanced biocompatibility using the bare micropatterned patches. This new class of biomimetic dressings overcomes the challenges of current patches, like poor mechanical properties and biocompatibility, limited adhesiveness and drug dosage, and lack of prolonged antimicrobial activity, opening new insights for the development of high drug-loaded dressings with improved patient compliance.

The climate changes issue is probable the top priority concern of the governments of the most countries of the world. Rigid and drastic measures have to be taken by all nations in order to reduce the noxious gases emission to the atmosphere. This ambitious goal can be achieved by ruling the energy production, by having a much more sustainable industry and adopting a much more sustainable way of living by all of us. The building industry has also to adapt to these circumstances to make its contribution to achieve the above goal. Focusing on traditional building techniques which require simple technology and use natural and local building materials and, eventually, to adapt them for the present required quality standards may be a step to solve this problem. Half of the world' population, 3 billion people approximately, on six continents, live or work in buildings constructed by earth based building materials. The fact that earth is natural, abundant and local result in an unexpressive amount of energy spending and noxious gases emission when it is used as a building material and, consequently, makes it undoubtedly much more ecological and economic when compared to the others building materials such as reinforced concrete or steel. In this context, the main objective of this research work is to give a contribution on the earth based building material properties and, in particular, for the development of adequate rehabilitation and strengthening techniques, based upon a biomimetic study focused on the andorinha-dos-beirais nest. A structural numerical model of a nest using a finite element computer analysis program was done in order to understand the structural behavior of this kind of natural structures. In order to identify a possible occurrence of a certain agglutination phenomenon during the building process of the nest by the birds, an experimental identification/characterization study of nest's material using samples taken in Vila Real area was carried out. The identification of the elementary chemical and the mineralogical compositions of the material were done by the scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM/EDS) and by the X-ray diffraction analysis, respectively. The identification/characterization of the organic composition was done using the colorimetric method, being the protein components detected by the biuret method and the polysaccharides/sugars components by the total sugar method. The identification of the type of polysaccharides/sugars and their amount was done by the anion-exchange chromatography method. In order to verify if the addition of polysaccharides/sugars into the nest's material results in an improvement of the mechanical properties, in particular, of its compressive strength, mechanical tests were carried out on cubic specimens, The results show that there is a strong possibility of the bird andorinha-dosbeirais adds a certain amount of glucose into the clay material during the building process of the nest, which may increase the quality of this raw material. This result may be easily extrapolated for the building industry by mixing up a certain percentage of glucose obtained by an abundant plant or fruit with the earth resulting in this way in a better performance earth based building material.

Naturally occurring and sustainable materials can be used as a template to create biomimetic/biomorphic ceramics, known as Ecoceramics (environmentally conscious ceramics). In this work, cork was chosen as template to produce novel ceria (CeO2) ecoceramics, for applications in water splitting for H2 production via direct concentrated solar thermochemical fuel production (TCFP). The cork powder was pyrolised at 900 çC and the resulting carbon skeleton was infiltrated with an aqueous CeO2 precursor, and then heated at 1000 çC for 2 h to produce the ecoceramic. The cellular structure of the cork was maintained, with hexagonal cell dimensions of 20-30 _m in diameter, but the grains were nanoscale at _100 nm. XRD data confirmed that CeO2 was the only crystalline phase obtained. An important feature was that, while the rectangular side walls were maintained to hold the three-dimensionally ordered macroporous (3DOM) cellular cork structure, the rear hexagonal walls were pierced repeatedly through the structure, unlike in the original cork structure, which will allow gasses such as H2 to permeate well into the structure, greatly increasing the reactive area available for catalysis. The next step will be to test the capabilities of both the regular, porous 3DOM structure and the nanoscale grains for thermochemical water splitting to produce hydrogen under direct concentrated solar energy. © 2016 Portuguese Society of Materials (SPM)