Structural Fuses : Lizards Inspire Groundbreaking Building Technique to Prevent Catastrophic Collapses

Brief

Discover how ICITECH-UPV researchers use lizard-inspired techniques to develop structural fuses that prevent building collapses. Read more!

Insight

A team of researchers from the ICITECH Institute at Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV) has introduced an innovative method to enhance building resilience by taking inspiration from lizards. Lizards use a defence mechanism called autotomy, where they can shed their tails to escape predators. Similarly, the researchers have designed “structural fuses” for buildings, which act as a final defence against catastrophic collapses.

Traditional building designs focus on redistributing loads when a component fails, which works for minor failures but can lead to progressive collapse in severe cases. Notable examples include the Champlain Towers and Peñíscola building collapses. The new design by the ICITECH-UPV team aims to address these failures by segmenting structural continuity only when failure becomes unavoidable, thus preventing total collapse and reducing damage.

This innovative approach adds minimal cost to construction due to the use of conventional materials and construction methods. The team has successfully tested their design on a full-scale prefabricated concrete building, demonstrating its effectiveness in isolating failures and preventing collapse. Currently, efforts are underway to extend this methodology to buildings made with in-situ concrete and steel.

The research, which received over 2.5 million euros in funding from the European Research Council (ERC), is the first verified solution to prevent collapse propagation after large initial failures. The findings were published in the journal Nature, marking a significant advancement in the field of structural resilience.

Highlight

Similarly, the researchers have designed “structural fuses” for buildings, which act as a final defence against catastrophic collapses.
The ICITECH-UPV team aims to address these failures by segmenting structural continuity only when failure becomes unavoidable, thus preventing total collapse and reducing damage.
This innovative approach adds minimal cost to construction due to the use of conventional materials and construction methods.