Application of bio-inspired design in geotechnical engineering shows promise for improving the energy and material efficiency of several processes in infrastructure construction and site characterization. This project examines tree root systems for use in future bio-inspired design to improve the capacity of foundations used to support, for example, buildings and bridges. Foundation and anchorage elements used in industry are comprised almost solely of linear elements with a constant cross-sectional geometry. This functional form has remained the same for more than a century, primarily due to material availability and installation simplicity. Knowledge and understanding of the mechanisms that contribute to capacity development of natural nonlinear or branched foundation systems, such as tree root systems, could make foundation design more sustainable. The experiments described herein show that the root systems studied are 6–10 times as efficient as a conventional micropile system in developing tensile capacity on a per volume basis, with some systems displaying nearly 100 times efficiency in comparison to a conventional shallow footings. This paper explores the relationship between root system architecture and force–displacement behavior of tree root systems to better understand how to improve foundation capacity and demonstrates the potential for a more efficient use of materials and energy as compared to conventional pile and footing approaches.

仿生设计在岩土工程中的应用表明，有望提高基础设施建设和场地表征中多个过程的能源和材料效率。该项目检查用于未来仿生设计的树根系统，以提高用于支撑建筑物和桥梁等基础的能力。工业中使用的基础和锚固元件几乎完全由具有恒定横截面几何形状的线性元件组成。一个多世纪以来，这种功能形式一直保持不变，主要是由于材料的可用性和安装的简单性。了解和理解有助于自然非线性或分支基础系统（如树根系统）能力发展的机制，可以使基础设计更具可持续性。本文描述的实验表明，所研究的根系在发展单位体积抗拉能力方面的效率是传统微型桩系统的 6-10 倍，与传统的浅基础相比，一些系统显示出近 100 倍的效率。本文探讨了树根系统结构与树根系统的力-位移行为之间的关系，以更好地了解如何提高基础能力，并展示与传统桩基方法相比更有效地利用材料和能源的潜力。与传统的浅基础相比，一些系统显示出近 100 倍的效率。本文探讨了树根系统结构与树根系统的力-位移行为之间的关系，以更好地了解如何提高基础能力，并展示与传统桩基方法相比更有效地利用材料和能源的潜力。与传统的浅基础相比，一些系统显示出近 100 倍的效率。本文探讨了树根系统结构与树根系统的力-位移行为之间的关系，以更好地了解如何提高基础能力，并展示与传统桩基方法相比更有效地利用材料和能源的潜力。