A mechanics model of the compression of cells with finite initial contact area

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Qiong, Gao^a | Pitt, R.E.^a | Ruina, A.^b

Affiliations: [a] Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, U.S.A. | [b] Department of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, U.S.A.

Note: [] Accepted by: Editor V.A. Parsegian

Abstract: The effect of intercellular bonding on the stress-strain behavior of soft plant tissue is considered. In our mechanical model, a conglomerate of identical cells is arranged in a regular array. Each cell is pressurized and bonded across flat contact areas with adjacent cells in the direction of the applied load. The cell wall is a finitely-deformed mechanical membrane bounding an incompressible fluid (the cytoplasm). A nonlinear elastic constitutive law is presented that describes data for apple parenchyma. Results show that intercellular bonding has a strong effect on the macroscopic properties of the whole tissue. A larger intercellular contact area increases tissue stiffness and magnifies the effect of initial turgor pressure on tissue stiffness.

Keywords: plant cells, constitutive relations, middle lamella

DOI: 10.3233/BIR-1990-27207

Journal: Biorheology, vol. 27, no. 2, pp. 225-240, 1990