Insights from Studies on the Spatial Distribution of Chambers in Ant Nests

Abstract Underground structures found in nature (e.g. ant nests) are complex in their topology. This study aims to draw inspiration from structures made by Harvester ants ( Pogonomyrmex Badius ) by analyzing the geometric features and understanding the underlying mechanical stability. We fit triaxial ellipsoids to individual chambers and used an analytical solution to establish the stress zones of influence (ZOI) of the individual chambers. The entire nest was modeled using the Finite Element Method (FEM) and the arching mechanisms were visualized in conjunction with the stress ZOIs and their overlaps. The results show that the spatial arrangement of the chambers yields overlapping ZOIs, enhanced arching effects, and thus, enhanced mechanical stability.