A lizard-inspired building system may prevent full-scale collapses.

A new construction technique inspired by lizards' ability to shed their tails may revolutionise building safety by localising structural failures, according to a study published in Nature. 

This innovative approach aims to prevent the collapse of entire buildings in the event of catastrophic damage.

The concept, developed by international researchers led by Jose Adam, mimics the natural fracture plane in lizard tails that allows them to escape predators. 

The researchers have termed this system “hierarchy-based collapse isolation”. 

This method creates controlled fractures along predetermined borders within certain sections of a building, effectively isolating the initial failure and preventing it from spreading. 

This design not only aids in preserving the building’s integrity but also facilitates the rescue of occupants by confining the damage.

The study says that current building designs typically focus on redistributing stress to intact components to avoid collapse. However, this can sometimes lead to the entire structure being compromised. 

The hierarchy-based collapse isolation approach differs by localising the failure, which enhances safety and simplifies repairs.

In their experiments, the researchers constructed a two-storey building measuring 15 by 12 metres using precast reinforced concrete. 

They subjected this structure to two phases of testing. The first phase simulated a minor initial failure by removing two columns at one corner, which confirmed the building's conventional structural support. In the second phase, a more severe failure was simulated by removing the remaining corner column. 

The hierarchy-based collapse isolation system successfully prevented a full-scale collapse, containing the damage to specific areas along load paths.

While these initial tests are promising, the researchers emphasise the need for further testing before the design can be widely implemented in various building types. 

Adam and colleagues note that hierarchy-based collapse isolation not only has the potential to save lives but also to reduce costs by allowing for partial rather than complete rebuilding of damaged structures.

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