Investigating the influence of plant fiber geometry on apparent transverse elastic properties through finite element analysis

Abstract

This study explores the link between plant fiber geometry and its transverse behavior, focusing on the resulting apparent transverse stiffness as determined by analytical models. Using Finite Element Analysis (FEA) plant fiber transverse compression is simulated with two-dimensional models. Simplified geometric representations of common geometric features are examined, showing how distinct attributes influence behavior. The fiber lumen is shown to decrease apparent stiffness, while elliptical geometry and flat sections increase it. An adaptation of analytical models for elliptical cross-sections yields a 93 % improvement on identification accuracy. Furthermore, the transverse compression of realistic geometries, extracted from microscopy images and presenting a blend of different features, is simulated. The lumen’s impact on apparent stiffness is shown to outweigh the effects of other features. These findings show the importance of apparent stiffness over fiber cell wall stiffness and how it may evolve under repeated loading, which has important implications for the composites sector.