title: Mechanical behaviour of plant tissues: composite materials or structures?
abstract: The mechanical characteristics of the strengthening tissue of young axes of Aristolochia macrophylla were studied in successive loading-unloading cycles in tension. Elastic, viscoelastic and plastic deformations could be distinguished. After the first cycle, the material was in a state different from its original state, to which it returned only partially and/or slowly. Internal 'microstructural' prestresses are considered as an explanation for the mechanical behaviour seen in Aristolochia macrophylla and several other plants.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Biologie III, Universität Freiburg, Germany. spatz@uni-freiburg.de
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Spatz
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Köhler
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Niklas
mesh_terms: D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D004548:Elasticity; D019684:Magnoliopsida / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008859:Microscopy, Polarization; D008954:Models, Biological; D013718:Tensile Strength