The Answer is Thermodynamics?
The Mechanical Engineering department at Duke has been doing some fascinating work that bleeds over into the built endeavor. Based on the physics principle that:
For a finite-size flow system to persist in time (to survive) its configuration must evolve (morph) in time in such a way that it provides easier flow access.
They’ve developed a field of “Constructal Theory” that studies the development of natural paths of least resistance to flow in a resisting substance. Which is to say that: the channel in which heat (the archetype) will flow most efficiently has a predictable shape in a certain environment. The breakthrough is when you realize that almost everything else that flows follows the same principles: Rivers, sap throughout trees, gasses, goods, traffic. The most natural flow for a dynamic system can then be worked out as a series of paths of least resistance. No mystery.
All things that flow follow certain principles, whether it is the constructal design for maximum flow access from the center to the edge of a circle, or the delta of the River Lena in northern Siberia. The flow goes from high to low, with hierarchy and multiple scales. –Adrian Bejan, Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Duke University
Add in the social scientists and you get a book: Constructal Theory of Social Dymanics Which is now on the reading list.
Fluid engineering explaining human dynamics. It’s like being back in the optimistic industrial revolution again.
Compare: Yours Truly as Heat Particle
For a finite-size flow system to persist in time (to survive) its configuration must evolve (morph) in time in such a way that it provides easier flow access.
They’ve developed a field of “Constructal Theory” that studies the development of natural paths of least resistance to flow in a resisting substance. Which is to say that: the channel in which heat (the archetype) will flow most efficiently has a predictable shape in a certain environment. The breakthrough is when you realize that almost everything else that flows follows the same principles: Rivers, sap throughout trees, gasses, goods, traffic. The most natural flow for a dynamic system can then be worked out as a series of paths of least resistance. No mystery.
All things that flow follow certain principles, whether it is the constructal design for maximum flow access from the center to the edge of a circle, or the delta of the River Lena in northern Siberia. The flow goes from high to low, with hierarchy and multiple scales. –Adrian Bejan, Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Duke University
Add in the social scientists and you get a book: Constructal Theory of Social Dymanics Which is now on the reading list.
Fluid engineering explaining human dynamics. It’s like being back in the optimistic industrial revolution again.
Compare: Yours Truly as Heat Particle
posted by KP | 27.11.07
2 Comments:
Yet another book-of-the-month that I will not be endeavoring to read...why not take on some chick-lit next, such as The Days of Abandonment? I'm anxious to see what your posting would say about that.
So I skimmed your book-of-the-month, and it appears that once again my belief that nothing is random has been reinforced (and I'd like to see what would be Bejan's next move if he lived on the moon).
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