Duke University, Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Durham, NC 27708-0300, USA.
Phys Life Rev. 2011 Oct;8(3):209-40. doi: 10.1016/j.plrev.2011.05.010. Epub 2011 May 27.
The constructal law accounts for the universal phenomenon of generation and evolution of design (configuration, shape, structure, pattern, rhythm). This phenomenon is observed across the board, in animate, inanimate and human systems. The constructal law states the time direction of the evolutionary design phenomenon. It defines the concept of design evolution in physics. Along with the first and second law, the constructal law elevates thermodynamics to a science of systems with configuration. In this article we review the more recent work of our group, with emphasis on the advances made with the constructal law in the natural sciences. Highlighted are the oneness of animate and inanimate designs, the origin of finite-size organs on animals and vehicles, the flow of stresses as the generator of design in solid structures (skeletons, vegetation), the universality and rigidity of hierarchy in all flow systems, and the global design of human flows. Noteworthy is the tapestry of distributed energy systems, which balances nodes of production with networks of distribution on the landscape, and serves as key to energy sustainability and empowerment. At the global level, the constructal law accounts for the geography and design of human movement, wealth and communications.
生成和演化设计（构型、形状、结构、图案、节奏）的普遍现象可用形态发生学定律来解释。这一现象在有生命、无生命和人类系统中无处不在。形态发生学定律阐明了进化设计现象的时间方向。它在物理学中定义了设计演化的概念。与第一定律和第二定律一起，形态发生学定律将热力学提升为具有构型的系统科学。本文回顾了我们小组的最新工作，重点介绍了形态发生学定律在自然科学中取得的进展。强调了有生命和无生命设计的统一性、动物和车辆上有限大小器官的起源、应力流作为固体结构（骨骼、植被）设计的生成器、所有流动系统中层次结构的普遍性和刚性，以及人类流动的全局设计。值得注意的是分布式能源系统的织锦，它平衡了景观上的生产节点和分配网络，是能源可持续性和赋权的关键。在全球层面上，形态发生学定律解释了人类运动、财富和通信的地理和设计。
