A group of scientists at MIT’s Laboratory of Infrastructure Science and Sustainability (LISS) recently released their study comparing cement paste with structures found in nature including shells and bones. In the comparison, the natural structures were examined on a macro, micro, and nano level, revealing that their strength lies in the arrangement of elements at these miniscule levels. Professor Oral Buyukozturk, who leads the group of researchers, hopes to use these natural structures as inspiration for improving current building materials. Like the comparison, Buyukozturk will make adjustments the same macro, micro, and nano levels.

For more information, visit the LISS website, or access the study by Dr. Buyukozturk, et. al.

Original Source :

http://web.mit.edu/liss/#/materials

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0950061816305566