Award details

Mechanical properties of turgid cellular materials

Reference	BBS/E/S/00000123
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Mr David Bruce
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors
Institution	Silsoe Research Institute
Department	Silsoe Research Institute Department
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	237,745
Status	Completed
Type	Institute Project
Start date	01/04/1997
End date	31/03/1998
Duration	12 months

Abstract

Uptake of plant fibres by industry is restricted by the lack of a sound understanding of fibre properties, how they arise from the structure and how fibres can be best used in novel composite materials. The original aim of this project was to explain the properties of plant fibres in terms of their cellular structure and measured cell wall properties. It involved mechanical testing of plant material and of fibres and mathematical modelling of fibres as cellular structures an as composite material. In 1997 the scope was broadened to include other turgid cellular materials. Cell wall mechanics are being examined in collaboration with biologists studying cell walls. The aim is to understand how the mechanical properties of cell walls, cell and tissue of plants arise from their structure, composition and turgidity, and to understand how these properties alter during events such as growth, ripening and abscission, and processing operations such as storage, handling (damage), cooking, cooling, freezing, etc. A novel technique for determining cell wall mechanical properties will be further developed.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Closed Committee - Plant & Microbial Sciences (PMS)
Research Topics	X – not assigned to a current Research Topic
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	X - not in an Initiative
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

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