Modelling biomechanics of bark patterning in grasstrees.

ABSTRACT:

Background and aims

Bark patterns are a visually important characteristic of trees, typically attributed to fractures occurring during secondary growth of the trunk and branches. An understanding of bark pattern formation has been hampered by insufficient information regarding the biomechanical properties of bark and the corresponding difficulties in faithfully modelling bark fractures using continuum mechanics. This study focuses on the genus Xanthorrhoea (grasstrees), which have an unusual bark-like structure composed of distinct leaf bases connected by sticky resin. Due to its discrete character, this structure is well suited for computational studies.

Methods

A dynamic computational model of grasstree development was created. The model captures both the phyllotactic patt

SUBMITTER: Dale H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4217681 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature