The Structural Optimization of Trees

Mattheck, C.; Bethge, K.

doi:10.1007/s001140050443

Cited by 56 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…The cell division rate of the cambium (the growth layer between the bark and the xylem) increases when tamarisk is under stimulation from the external environment31. It subsequently produces thicker rings32, and the surface growth stress simultaneously increases (Fig. 7b).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Active Anti-erosion Protection Strategy in Tamarisk (Tamarix aphylla)

Han

Yin

Zhang

et al. 2013

Sci Rep

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Plants have numerous active protection strategies for adapting to complex and severe environments. These strategies provide endless inspiration for extending the service life of materials and machines. Tamarisk (Tamarix aphylla), a tree that thrives in raging sandstorm regions, has adapted to blustery conditions by evolving extremely effective and robust erosion resistant characteristics. However, the relationships among its surface cracks, internal histology and biomechanics, such as cracks, rings, cells, elasticity modulus and growth stress, which account for its erosion resistance, remain unclear. This present study reveals that the directionally eccentric growth rings of tamarisk, which are attributed to reduced stress and accelerated cell division, promote the formation of surface cracks. The windward rings are more extensive than the leeward side rings. The windward surfaces are more prone to cracks, which improves erosion resistance. Our data provide insight into the active protection strategy of the tamarisk against wind–sand erosion.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Active Anti-erosion Protection Strategy in Tamarisk (Tamarix aphylla)

Han

Yin

Zhang

et al. 2013

Sci Rep

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“…Large trees deserve a special mention because they need to support the substantial weight of their trunk and branches, and additionally to withstand strong winds. One strategy is to adapt the growth of their roots, stems and trunk in various structural patterns, such as thickening, twisting and branching, resulting in well adapted biomechanical forms that are far more sophisticated than classical engineering designs of load‐bearing elements (Mattheck , Mattheck and Bethge ). The older parts of the dicot tree Robinia pseudoacacia become thicker and more massive due to secondary thickening of the xylem (Niklas ).…”

Section: Cell Wall—its Functional Propertiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Plant and algal structure: from cell walls to biomechanical function

Shtein

Bar‐On

Popper

2018

Physiologia Plantarum

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Plant and algal cell walls are complex biomaterials composed of stiff cellulose microfibrils embedded in a soft matrix of polysaccharides, proteins and phenolic compounds. Cell wall composition differs between taxonomic groups and different tissue types (or even at the sub-cellular level) within a plant enabling specific biomechanical properties important for cell/tissue function. Moreover, cell wall composition changes may be induced in response to environmental conditions. Plant structure, habit, morphology and internal anatomy are also dependent on the taxonomic group as well as abiotic and biotic factors. This review aims to examine the complex and incompletely understood interactions of cell wall composition, plant form and biomechanical function.

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“…These panels are relatively easy to analyze, manufacture, and have few design variables making the optimization task simpler. There are several other publications in the literature 19,20 mimicking natural structures such as bones and trees to design laminated composites which basically follow the principal stress direction selection scheme.…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Design of Composite Layers With Curvilinear Fiber Paths Using Cellular Automata

Setoodeh¹,

Gürdal²

2003

44th AIAA/ASME/ASCE/AHS/ASC Structures, Structural Dynamics, and Materials Conference

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The anisotropic advantageous properties of fiber reinforced composites may not be fully exploited unless the fibers are properly placed in their optimal spatial orientations. This paper investigates application of Cellular Automata (CA) for curvilinear fiber design of composite laminae for in-plane responses. CA use local rules to update both field and design variables in an iterative scheme till convergence. In the present study, displacement update rules are derived using a finite element model governing the equilibrium of the cell neighborhood and fiber angles are locally optimized based on a minimum strain energy criterion. A manufacturing improvement is applied on top of the local optimum orientation wherever this angle is not consistent with the cell neighborhood orientation trend. Numerical studies showed convergency of the local update rules and considerable improvements in the stiffness properties for a cantilever bending test and a square plate with a cutout.

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The Structural Optimization of Trees

Cited by 56 publications

References 3 publications

Active Anti-erosion Protection Strategy in Tamarisk (Tamarix aphylla)

Active Anti-erosion Protection Strategy in Tamarisk (Tamarix aphylla)

Plant and algal structure: from cell walls to biomechanical function

Design of Composite Layers With Curvilinear Fiber Paths Using Cellular Automata

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