Flow charts as a method to transfer self-sealing from plant models into programmable materials and related challenges

Abstract Self-sealing is becoming a necessary function in sustainable systems for enhancing materials lifetime and improving system resilience. In this context, plants are prime models as they have developed various concepts. Moreover, implementing self-sealing into engineering applications is becoming more feasible with the advent of programmable materials. That is because these materials are able to implement simple algorithms by locally and globally processing information and adapting to changing conditions. However, the transfer of bio-inspired system functions into technological applications is tedious. It requires an intimate understanding of the selected biological models and the technological problem. To support the transfer of concepts and principles, we propose easy-to-read flow charts as a common language for biologists and engineers. Describing the functions of biological models and their underlying functional principles as process flow diagrams, allows to convert detailed biological insights into sequential step-wise algorithms, which turns the focus on building blocks necessary to achieve specific functions. We present a first set of flow charts for selected plant models exhibiting different self-sealing mechanisms based on hydraulics, mechanical instabilities, and sap release. For these plant-inspired control flows, we identified technical statements to classify metamaterial mechanisms and unit cells, which represent possible solutions for the steps in the algorithms for sealing procedures in future technical applications. A common language of flow charts will simplify the transfer of functional principles found in plant models into technological applications. Programmable materials expand the available design space of materials, putting us within reach to implement self-sealing functions inspired by plants.