ACCIS

ACCIS Doctoral training centre

ACCIS DTC student runner-up at Natural Systems and Processes poster session

23 April 2012

Photograph of Broderick Coburn

Broderick Coburn, ACCIS DTC student

Congratulations to ACCIS Doctoral Training Centre (DTC) student, Broderick Coburn, who came runner-up in the category of Best Oral Presentation at the University of Bristol Natural Systems and Processes Poster Session. The annual event, which took place on Monday 19 March 2012, was open to all University of Bristol postgraduates studying natural systems and processes and attracted 124 entrants. Voting for categories was carried out by staff and students.

Broderick’s project, entitled The Venus Flytrap – A Bistable Orthotropic Shell Structure, explains the fast snapping mechanism of the Venus flytrap. This was shown by modelling the lobes as bistable layered structures accounting for orthotropy, doubly curved geometry and the biological actuation mechanism. Results show the Venus flytrap as a smart system which effectively switches on bistability to enable a fast snap and effective prey capture. This work was undertaken as part of Broderick’s six month research project which was supervised by Prof. Paul Weaver and formed part of the taught element of the DTC programme.