Combining numerical models and discretizing methods in the analysis of bamboo parenchyma using finite element analysis based on X-ray microtomography

Plant cellular materials present a complex arrangement responsible for their properties; thus, investigating them is essential to understand their macro-performance. Noninvasive methods to investigate samples, such as X-ray microtomography (mu CT), are of growing interest in the study of plants. Using mu CT imaging in finite element analyses (FEA) is a preferred method for assessing cellular materials. However, little has been investigated concerning its application to plants. Numerical models were combined with mu CT-based FEA of bamboo parenchyma under compressive loading. The models were used in the mechanical properties of the FEA, and two discretizing methods were compared: voxel-based and geometry-based. The influence of the parameters in the numerical models was analyzed. An explicit analysis was also carried out in the geometry-based model to evaluate the stress-strain relations of an axial compression, as well as the volume change in the parenchyma lumina during the test. The results suggest that parenchyma show greater strain in cell walls of axially neighboring cells, allowing us to estimate local compressive effects of cells near critical loading and to verify the deformation steps during quasi-static compression. This approach could be used to evaluate the mechanical behavior of other plant structures and cellular solids for materials and plant sciences.