Contact Mechanics between Torus and Pit Border for Developing Air-Seeding Seal in Aspirated Bordered Pits

Bordered pits in conifers have been recognized as a significant evolutionary characteristic that served to impede the spread of embolisms between tracheids. Nevertheless, there was a lack of comprehensive understanding regarding the mechanical properties of the torus and the pit border in relation t...

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Main Authors: Peng Xia, Jianan Gu, Wenlong Song, Li Xie, Yunjie Wu, Hanqi Zhang, Qionglin Li
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-11-01
Series:Forests
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/14/12/2324
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author Peng Xia
Jianan Gu
Wenlong Song
Li Xie
Yunjie Wu
Hanqi Zhang
Qionglin Li
author_facet Peng Xia
Jianan Gu
Wenlong Song
Li Xie
Yunjie Wu
Hanqi Zhang
Qionglin Li
author_sort Peng Xia
collection DOAJ
description Bordered pits in conifers have been recognized as a significant evolutionary characteristic that served to impede the spread of embolisms between tracheids. Nevertheless, there was a lack of comprehensive understanding regarding the mechanical properties of the torus and the pit border in relation to the formation of contact seals in aspirated pits. A solid mechanics model was developed to study aspirated bordered pits, incorporating the elastic deformation of the torus–margo structure and the contact behavior between the torus and the pit border. Ten pit samples were reconstructed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) pictures in order to develop mechanical models for pits in the stems of <i>Platycladus orientalis</i>. Due to the limited contact area on the torus surface, the contact pressure between the torus and the pit border exceeded the air pressure in aspirated bordered pits. The external force and the duration required to seal pits decreased when the pit diameter increased and the pit depth decreased. The augmentation of the torus and margo mass necessitated a lengthier duration for the closure of cavities. The findings presented in this study offered theoretical support for the capillary-seeding hypothesis. The aspiration in bordered pits mechanically depended on the structural and material characteristics of the torus and margo.
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spelling doaj.art-a42747ee1f9a4737ac9bc638fb8f6a732023-12-22T14:09:24ZengMDPI AGForests1999-49072023-11-011412232410.3390/f14122324Contact Mechanics between Torus and Pit Border for Developing Air-Seeding Seal in Aspirated Bordered PitsPeng Xia0Jianan Gu1Wenlong Song2Li Xie3Yunjie Wu4Hanqi Zhang5Qionglin Li6School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150000, ChinaSchool of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150000, ChinaSchool of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150000, ChinaSchool of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150000, ChinaSchool of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150000, ChinaSchool of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150000, ChinaSchool of Civil Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu 610000, ChinaBordered pits in conifers have been recognized as a significant evolutionary characteristic that served to impede the spread of embolisms between tracheids. Nevertheless, there was a lack of comprehensive understanding regarding the mechanical properties of the torus and the pit border in relation to the formation of contact seals in aspirated pits. A solid mechanics model was developed to study aspirated bordered pits, incorporating the elastic deformation of the torus–margo structure and the contact behavior between the torus and the pit border. Ten pit samples were reconstructed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) pictures in order to develop mechanical models for pits in the stems of <i>Platycladus orientalis</i>. Due to the limited contact area on the torus surface, the contact pressure between the torus and the pit border exceeded the air pressure in aspirated bordered pits. The external force and the duration required to seal pits decreased when the pit diameter increased and the pit depth decreased. The augmentation of the torus and margo mass necessitated a lengthier duration for the closure of cavities. The findings presented in this study offered theoretical support for the capillary-seeding hypothesis. The aspiration in bordered pits mechanically depended on the structural and material characteristics of the torus and margo.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/14/12/2324bordered pitaspirationcontact mechanicstorussealing<i>Platycladus orientalis</i>
spellingShingle Peng Xia
Jianan Gu
Wenlong Song
Li Xie
Yunjie Wu
Hanqi Zhang
Qionglin Li
Contact Mechanics between Torus and Pit Border for Developing Air-Seeding Seal in Aspirated Bordered Pits
Forests
bordered pit
aspiration
contact mechanics
torus
sealing
<i>Platycladus orientalis</i>
title Contact Mechanics between Torus and Pit Border for Developing Air-Seeding Seal in Aspirated Bordered Pits
title_full Contact Mechanics between Torus and Pit Border for Developing Air-Seeding Seal in Aspirated Bordered Pits
title_fullStr Contact Mechanics between Torus and Pit Border for Developing Air-Seeding Seal in Aspirated Bordered Pits
title_full_unstemmed Contact Mechanics between Torus and Pit Border for Developing Air-Seeding Seal in Aspirated Bordered Pits
title_short Contact Mechanics between Torus and Pit Border for Developing Air-Seeding Seal in Aspirated Bordered Pits
title_sort contact mechanics between torus and pit border for developing air seeding seal in aspirated bordered pits
topic bordered pit
aspiration
contact mechanics
torus
sealing
<i>Platycladus orientalis</i>
url https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/14/12/2324
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