Tiled material systems: Exploring biodiversity and multifunctionality of a universal and structural motif

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Abstract
Humans are drawn to patterns and hierarchies in nature, mimicking them particularly in decoration and architecture. Natural patterns, however, are never purely esthetic and, since evolution works on a variety of factors simultaneously, natural structural systems are intrinsically multifunctional. In order to understand the roles that structural patterns play in biology (and therefore their potential capabilities and utilization in design, architecture and engineering), we need to catalog and encapsulate the diversity of examples and the materials involved. Here, we provide a first classification of biological “tilings,” tessellated natural architectures that involve the repeated pattern of geometric, discrete elements bound by a joint material. By examining 100 examples across the Tree of Life, we reveal this natural structural motif is unexpectedly prevalent: we cover a huge taxonomic diversity, eight orders of magnitude in size scale, and myriad morphologies and functions ranging from optics to armor, allowing us to construct a hierarchical system of eight variables to classify form, function, and materiality in biological tilings. Using diverse means of data analysis (including multiple correspondence analysis), we show this database can be explored to reveal fundamental links among anatomical characteristics and functions as well as connections among and within taxonomic groups. Our resulting collection of “tessellated materials” and its companion website act therefore as a multidisciplinary meeting point (e.g. for biologists, designers, engineers, architects). In this way, our database offers windows for exploring selective pressures and trade-offs and a launchpad for future research and collaborative, cross-disciplinary, bioinspired projects.
Funding Information
  • Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (EXC 2025–390648296)
  • HFSP Young Investigators (RGY0067-2013, INST 276/851-1 FUGG)

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