The architectural design of smart ventilation and drainage systems in termite nests

28 March 2019 par webmaster
Termite nests have been widely studied as effective examples for ventilation and thermoregulation.

By combining multi-scale X-ray imaging with three-dimensional flow field simulations, Guy Theraulaz and Christian Jost of CRCA-CBI Toulouse, in collaboration with researchers at Imperial College London and the University of Nottingham, studied the impact of architectural nest wall design on CO2 exchange, heat transport and water drainage

This study, published in the journal Science Advances, showed that termites build outer walls that contain both small and percolating large pores at the microscale and these microstructures play a fundamental role in the properties of termites.

More information (in french)

Featured in:

Publication

The architectural design of smart ventilation and drainage systems in termite nests.

Singh, K., Muljadi, B.P., Raeini, A.Q., Jost, C., Vandeginste, V., Blunt, M.J., Theraulaz, G. & Degond, P.

Science Advances 22 Mar  2019 Vol. 5 no 3 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aat8520

Contact

Guy Theraulaz, Chercheur CNRS au CRCA) – CBI Toulouse, +33 6 17 70 75 30