Author(s)

K. Götz & C. Mattheck

Abstract

Studies on the strength of wood indicated connections which oppose a probably failure of material in supposed weak spots. The interaction between loading in trees and wood anatomy pointed out the optimization of the internal structure of trees. Together with the zero shearstress arrangement of fibres in direction of the grain and the optimum distribution of residual stresses, the internal optimization appears to be an ideal completion to the known external shape optimization of biological load carriers. Nature provides therefore a valuable support to improve the mechanical behaviour of fibre reinforced composites. In case of the understanding of the internal optimization of trees, there was a significant improvement on the notch behaviour of fibre composites through a local approximation of the ideal fibre orientation

Keywords