Sculptural Biomimetic Heat Sinks

Sculptural Biomimetic Heat Sinks is a project by art and mechanical engineering student Joshua Lopez-Binder. For this project, Lopez-Binder developed a computational model to create branching structures similar to stony corals. The aim is to eventually simulate heat sink conditions of fluid flow and heat transfer and grow optimal structures based on those conditions. Biomimetic heat sinks could potentially eliminate the need for cooling fans by providing much more effective passive cooling.

Biomimetic Heat Sinks: coral simulation from Joshua Lopez-Binder on Vimeo.

FRFAF Showcase :: Joshua Lopez-Binder from STUDIO for Creative Inquiry on Vimeo.

Read more: http://golancourses.net/2013/projects/study-for-biomimetic-heat-sinks-coral-growth/

Sculptural Biomimetic Heat Sinks was supported by a microgrant from the Frank-Ratchye Fund for Art @ the Frontier (FRFAF)— an endowment founded to encourage the creation of innovative artworks by the faculty, students and staff of Carnegie Mellon University. With this fund, the STUDIO seeks to develop a cache of groundbreaking projects created at CMU — works that can be described as “thinking at the edges” of the intersection of disciplines.