Markus Buehler

Publications (3)8.22 Total impact

• Source

  Available from: web.mit.edu

  Article: Reoccurring patterns in hierarchical protein materials and music: The power of analogies

  Tristan Giesa, David Spivak, Markus Buehler
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  ABSTRACT: Complex hierarchical structures composed of simple nanoscale building blocks form the basis of most biological materials. Here we demonstrate how analogies between seemingly different fields enable the understanding of general principles by which functional properties in hierarchical systems emerge, similar to an analogy learning process. Specifically, natural hierarchical materials like spider silk exhibit properties comparable to classical music in terms of their hierarchical structure and function. As a comparative tool here we apply hierarchical ontology logs (olog) that follow a rigorous mathematical formulation based on category theory to provide an insightful system representation by expressing knowledge in a conceptual map. We explain the process of analogy creation, draw connections at several levels of hierarchy and identify similar patterns that govern the structure of the hierarchical systems silk and music and discuss the impact of the derived analogy for nanotechnology.
  11/2011;
• Article: Keten and Buehler Reply:

  Sinan Keten, Markus Buehler
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  ABSTRACT: A Reply to the Comment by Dmitrii E. Makarov.
  Physical Review Letters 04/2009; 102(12):129802. · 7.37 Impact Factor
• Source

  Available from: mit.edu

  Article: Nanomechanical strength mechanisms of hierarchical biological materials and tissues.

  Markus J Buehler, Theodor Ackbarow
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  ABSTRACT: Biological protein materials (BPMs), intriguing hierarchical structures formed by assembly of chemical building blocks, are crucial for critical functions of life. The structural details of BPMs are fascinating: They represent a combination of universally found motifs such as alpha-helices or beta-sheets with highly adapted protein structures such as cytoskeletal networks or spider silk nanocomposites. BPMs combine properties like strength and robustness, self-healing ability, adaptability, changeability, evolvability and others into multi-functional materials at a level unmatched in synthetic materials. The ability to achieve these properties depends critically on the particular traits of these materials, first and foremost their hierarchical architecture and seamless integration of material and structure, from nano to macro. Here, we provide a brief review of this field and outline new research directions, along with a review of recent research results in the development of structure-property relationships of biological protein materials exemplified in a study of vimentin intermediate filaments.
  Computer Methods in Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering 10/2008; 11(6):595-607. · 0.85 Impact Factor