Tragopogon dubius, considerations on a possible biomimetic transfer

Tragopogon dubious is a small herbaceous plant that uses the wind as dispersal vector for its seeds. The seeds are attached to stalked parachutes which increase the aerodynamic drag force on the seeds. This decreases their rate of descent, and hence increases the total distance traveled. The relatively large natural parachute of Tragopogon dubious is an ideal model in a biomimetic structure owing to its relative large size, sturdy and robust structure, and the hierarchical distribution of its fibers. The present contribution describes some preliminary results on the structural properties and aerodynamical behavior of this seed, with the goal of developing new stream of designs of lighter or more robust parachute for possible extra-terrestrial purposes. © 2012 Springer-Verlag.