Modeling hygroelastic properties of genetically modified aspen

Perry Peralta; Ilona Peszlen; Laszlo Horvath; Levente Csoka; Balazs Horvath; Joseph Jakes

Treesearch

Modeling hygroelastic properties of genetically modified aspen

Formally Refereed

Authors:

Perry Peralta, Ilona Peszlen, Laszlo Horvath, Levente Csoka, Balazs Horvath, Joseph Jakes

Year:

2012

Type:

Scientific Journal

Station:

Forest Products Laboratory

Source:

Wood and Fiber Science, Volume 44, Number 1, 2012, pp. 22-35; 2012.

Download (PDF 1.30 MB)

Download (PDF 1.30 MB): https://research.fs.usda.gov/download/treesearch/40497.pdf

Abstract

Numerical and three-dimensional finite element models were developed to improve understanding of major factors affecting hygroelastic wood properties. Effects of chemical composition, microfibril angle, crystallinity, structure of microfibrils, moisture content, and hydrophilicity of the cell wall were included in the model. Wood from wild-type and decreased-lignin transgenic aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) was used for experimental validation of the computer model. The model was able to predict longitudinal elastic modulus of microfibrils and woody cell walls. The difference in longitudinal elastic properties between wild-type and genetically modified aspen wood was predicted well only when additional softening of hemicelluloses and amorphous cellulose of transgenic aspen was included in the model.

Keywords

Cell wall, computer modeling, hydrophilicity, lignin, transgenic aspen

Citation

Horvath, Laszlo; Peralta, Perry; Peszlen, Ilona; Csoka, Levente; Horvath, Balazs; Jakes, Joseph. 2012. Modeling hygroelastic properties of genetically modified aspen. Wood and Fiber Science. 44(1): 22-35.