Abstract
BackgroundFlexural three-point bending tests are useful for characterizing the mechanical properties of plant stems. These tests can be performed with minimal sample preparation, thus allowing tests to be performed relatively quickly. The best-practice for such tests involves long spans with supports and load placed at nodes. This approach typically provides only one flexural stiffness measurement per specimen. However, by combining flexural tests with analytic equations, it is possible to solve for the mechanical characteristics of individual stem segments.ResultsA method is presented for using flexural tests to obtain estimates of flexural stiffness of individual segments. This method pairs physical test data with analytic models to obtain a system of equations. The solution of this system of equations provides values of flexural stiffness for individual stalk segments. Uncertainty in the solved values for flexural stiffness were found to be strongly dependent upon measurement errors. Row-wise scaling of the system of equations reduced the influence of measurement error. Of many possible test combinations, the most advantageous set of tests for performing these measurements were identified. Relationships between measurement uncertainty and solution uncertainty were provided for two different testing methods.ConclusionsThe methods presented in this paper can be used to measure the axial variation in flexural stiffness of plant stem segments. However, care must be taken to account for the influence of measurement error as the individual segment method amplifies measurement error. An alternative method involving aggregate flexural stiffness values does not amplify measurement error, but provides lower spatial resolution.
Highlights
Three-point bending tests are frequently used to characterize the mechanical properties of plant stems [1,2,3]
This study focuses on the idea that multiple tests can be combined with analytic equations to solve for the flexural stiffness of each individual internodal section
These values were used to simulate the 10-test procedure for 50 different stalks. This process was repeated 50 times, providing a total of 2500 simulated solutions for each internode. In parallel with these simulations, Tests 1, 2, and 3 were used to solve for the aggregate flexural stiffnesses corresponding to each test
Summary
Three-point bending tests are frequently used to characterize the mechanical properties of plant stems [1,2,3]. Plant stems can be tested in three-point bending as long as care is taken to minimize the influence of transverse compression of the Martin‐Nelson et al Plant Methods (2021) 17:101 stem cross-section, which can introduce serious errors [8, 9]. This implies that loads should be placed only at the junction between segments, which are known as nodes. Flexural three-point bending tests are useful for characterizing the mechanical properties of plant stems These tests can be performed with minimal sample preparation, allowing tests to be performed relatively quickly. By combining flexural tests with analytic equations, it is possible to solve for the mechanical characteristics of individual stem segments
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