Biomechanics of Wheat/Barley Straw and Corn Stover

Abstract

SummaryThe lack of understanding of the mechanical characteristics of cellulosic feedstocks is a limiting factor in economically collecting and processing crop residues, primarily wheat and barley stems and corn stover. Several testing methods, including compression, tension, and bend have been investigated to increase our understanding of the biomechanical behavior of cellulosic feedstocks. Biomechanical data from these tests can provide required input to numerical models and help advance harvesting, handling, and processing techniques. In addition, integrating the models with the complete data set from this study can identify potential tools for manipulating the biomechanical properties of plant varieties in such a manner as to optimize their physical characteristics to produce higher value biomass and more energy efficient harvesting practices.Index Entries: Modulus of elasticity; biomechanics; wheat straw; corn stover; feedstock development.

Modeling of flexible wheat straw by discrete element method and its parameters calibration

“…For crop straw, most researchers used three-point bending tests to study on its bending property [25][26][27] . In this research, a three-point bending test was carried out and elastic modulus of the wheat straw was calculated.…”

Tensile Properties of Maize Stalk Rind

“…A computer data acquisition system recorded the magnitude of the applied load to the specimen and elongation of the specimen. A loading speed of 3 mm/min was used for all tests in order to avoid velocity influence (Wright et al 2005).…”

“…There is a need to improve harvesting, processing, and bulk handling systems that are capable of separating the more valuable components and densifying the material for transportation and processing. Successfully designing and developing those systems requires knowledge of the mechanical properties of maize stover (Wright et al 2005).…”

A multi-scale biomechanical model based on the physiological structure and lignocellulose components of wheat straw

“…Experimental and theoretical methods have been employed for decades to decipher biomechanical behavior of crop straw (Chen, Liao, Xing, & Han, 2013;Hu, Lei, Xu, Shen, & Liu, 2009;Wright et al, 2005) or composite including crop straw (Khazaeian, Ashori, & Dizaj, 2015;Kuang, Kuang, Zheng, & Wang, 2010). Wright et al (2005) performed compression, tension, and bend tests on wheat/barley straw and corn stover .…”

“…Wright et al (2005) performed compression, tension, and bend tests on wheat/barley straw and corn stover . The biomechanical properties obtained from these tests were used to investigate the possibility of distinguishing different varieties of straw.…”