Washington: In what could potentially act as a major breakthrough for scientists working to protect buildings from earthquakes, researchers are using compression machines and an impact pendulum to investigate how coconuts disperse energy so as to make buildings that can resist earthquakes and other natural disasters.
Derived from the Spanish word ‘coco’ which means "head" or "skull" which is hard in nature, coconuts could help in the construction of earthquake resistant buildings. Researchers say it will help them study on designing buildings that can withstand earthquakes and other natural disasters.
Researchers of Plant Biomechanics Group of the University of Freiburg with civil engineers and material scientists are together working to investigate how the specialised structure of coconuts could help in making a building’s walls as their part of the larger project on "Biological Design and Integrative Structures."
In the latest study, researchers used compression machines and an impact pendulum to study how coconuts disperse energy.
“By analysing the fracture behaviour of the samples and combining this with knowledge about the shell's anatomy gained from microscopy and computed tomography, we aimed to identify mechanically relevant structures for energy absorption,” said researcher Stefanie Schmier.
In their investigation they endocarp the layer which consists mainly of highly lignified stone cells and a ladder-like design which is thought to help withstand bending forces.
“The endocarp seems to dissipate energy via crack deflection,” noted Stefanie.
“This means that any newly developed cracks created by the impact don't run directly through the hard shell,” Stefanie further added.
According to the study the angle of vascular bundles helps to divert the route of cracks and thus making the cracks stop before reaching to the other side.
“The combination of lightweight structuring with high energy dissipation capacity is of increasing interest to protect buildings against earthquakes, rock fall and other natural or manmade hazards,” concluded Stefanie.
