ELISE 3D - A DATABASE-DRIVEN ENGINEERING AND DESIGN TOOL

In order to realize completely new functional design approaches one has to deal with combinations of different geometries, materials and construction methods. The acquisition of the needed data for a totally new initial model is complex and therefore the design of new light structures is typically done by changing or optimizing existing solutions. In contrast, the new database-driven engineering and design tool ELiSE 3D draws on the shell design of high-strength, unicellular marine organisms such as diatoms and radiolaria to provide design concepts for large scale technical lightweight structures. Since about 100.000 different species with different light structure geometries are known, a systematic use of this pool of potentially technically usable structures has a high potential to design and improve lightweight constructions in different industries. Here we show, that unique design solutions can be found efficiently and integrated to a consistent workflow.