Bionics and Design: 3D Microstructural Characterization of Cork for the Development of Conceptual Products

Several natural materials are known for their properties in terms of shock absorption and compressive strength, like the case of some plant tissues and structures. When analyzed with new 3D technologies, such structures can be used as a source of inspiration for the development of new projects, aiming at improving their performance. Cork is considered an outstanding biological material in terms of mechanical performance, due to the combination of high energy absorption, compressive resistance, and elasticity. Despite having a regular honeycomb structure, cork performance is still considered a gold standard in many applications and thus has a great potential to be used as a source of inspiration for new designs. With recent advances in finite element analysis (FEA) based on high-resolution X-ray microtomography, new insights can be made regarding its 3D cellular structure, allowing the development of new applications of cork based on the study of bionics, biomimetics, and biodesign. This chapter approaches the noninvasive, high-resolution 3D investigation of cork aiming to apply its 3D morphology in the development of new conceptual bioinspired products, through the study of bionics.