title: An analytic model of the self-sealing mechanism of the succulent plant Delosperma cooperi.
abstract: After an injury, wound-sealing in leaves of the succulent plant Delosperma cooperi takes place by deformation and movement of the entire leaf within a time span of 30-60 min. In cross sections the almost cylindrical leaves reveal a centripetal arrangement of five different tissue types. Based on anatomical data and mechanical analyses of the five hulls, representing the different tissue layers, we present an analytical model describing the self-sealing process. The inclusion of viscoelastic aspects into the models enables to predict the temporal development of the self-sealing process. The formulation of the model in terms of closed functions facilitates: (i) sensitivity studies and (ii) the transfer of the model to technical systems which are based on non-biological materials.
authors.affiliation: Plant Biomechanics Group, Botanic Garden, Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Schänzlestr. 1, D-79104 Freiburg i. Br., Germany; Department of Geosciences, Faculty of Science, University of Tübingen, Hölderlinstrasse 12, D-72074 Tübingen, Germany. Electronic address: wilfried.konrad@uni-tuebingen.de.
authors.forename: Wilfried
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Konrad
authors.forename: Felix
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Flues
authors.forename: Florian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Schmich
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Speck
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Speck
mesh_terms: D029748:Caryophyllaceae / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D004548:Elasticity; D008954:Models, Biological; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D013312:Stress, Physiological; D014783:Viscosity
keywords: Biomimetics; Plants; Self-healing; Self-sealing; Viscoelasticity