Natural armour: How a beetle is helping engineers design stronger materials
Imagine stepping on what you believe to be a normal beetle and seeing it not only survive your weight but look completely unscathed. Now, imagine that same beetle also surviving being run over by a car. That’s the superpower of the Diabolical Ironclad Beetle — a bug that structural engineers are studying to see how the makeup of its shell could lead to stronger buildings and vehicles.
This unusual bug is found in California and is so tough it can withstand 39,000 times its own weight. Its strength comes from its distinct armour-like shell, which itself isn’t all that strong. It’s the result of a simple evolutionary change from when the beetle had wings that gives the bug its immense strength. The layers of its shell sit in something akin to a jigsaw pattern. When pressure is applied to the beetle’s back, the shell then spreads, dispersing any weight that’s on its back. The shell then locks in a pattern that protects the beetle from force that would otherwise crush any other insect.
Structural engineers are responsible for designing structures such as bridges, towers, pipelines, tunnels, aircraft, ships and commercial buildings. Their role involves structural analysis of the elements of force and resistance that need to be factored into a building’s construction — including materials and dimensions. Learning how the Diabolical Ironclad Beetle’s shell is able to shift and lock in order to disperse force could allow structural engineers to incorporate similar features into their designs, resulting in stronger and more resilient buildings and vehicles.
As structural engineers across the globe unlock the secrets behind the Diabolical Ironclad Beetle’s armour design, their work may one day influence the ways in which Alberta’s engineers continue to keep all of us safe and secure. And that’s important to APEGA, the regulator that licenses professional engineers who ensure the highest professional and safety standards are applied in every situation. No matter the size of the job, public interest is always the most crucial factor for any one of our licensed professionals.