Methodological advances in predicting flow-induced dynamics of plants using mechanical-engineering theory

The Journal of Experimental Biology
Emmanuel de Langre

Abstract

The modeling of fluid-structure interactions, such as flow-induced vibrations, is a well-developed field of mechanical engineering. Many methods exist, and it seems natural to apply them to model the behavior of plants, and potentially other cantilever-like biological structures, under flow. Overcoming this disciplinary divide, and the application of such models to biological systems, will significantly advance our understanding of ecological patterns and processes and improve our predictive capabilities. Nonetheless, several methodological issues must first be addressed, which I describe here using two practical examples that have strong similarities: one from agricultural sciences and the other from nuclear engineering. Very similar issues arise in both: individual and collective behavior, small and large space and time scales, porous modeling, standard and extreme events, trade-off between the surface of exchange and individual or collective risk of damage, variability, hostile environments and, in some aspects, evolution. The conclusion is that, although similar issues do exist, which need to be exploited in some detail, there is a significant gap that requires new developments. It is obvious that living plants grow in and ...Continue Reading

References

Jul 26, 2002·Nature·Ran NathanSimon A Levin
Jun 8, 2004·Journal of Biomechanical Engineering·O DoaréE de Langre
Nov 24, 2006·Nature·Joshua S Madin, Sean R Connolly
Oct 1, 2006·American Journal of Botany·Frank W Telewski
Jul 5, 2011·Journal of Theoretical Biology·Diego LopezEmmanuel de Langre
Feb 24, 2012·The Journal of Experimental Biology·Joshua S MadinSean R Connolly
Feb 24, 2012·The Journal of Experimental Biology·Brian GaylordLaura Jurgens

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Citations

Jan 31, 2013·Journal of Experimental Botany·Karl J Niklas
Feb 24, 2012·The Journal of Experimental Biology·J Herbert Waite, Christopher C Broomell
Dec 17, 2014·Journal of Theoretical Biology·Julian Krick, Josef Daniel Ackerman
Jun 15, 2019·Journal of Experimental Botany·Frédérick P Gosselin

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