MMMDT · Multi-scale Modelling of Mechanical Damage to Tomatoes
FP7 — People (Marie Curie Actions)
- Duration
- 2016-10-01 → 2017-09-30
- EU contribution
- €15,000
- Participants
- 1
- Scheme
- MC-IIFR
Lines connect the coordinator with its partners.
Results in brief
Multi-scale Modelling of Mechanical Damage to Tomatoes
The scientific aim of the project was to model the multi-scale mechanics of tomatoes to provide a tool for investigating internal damage to tomatoes caused by external forces during handling and processing. This plan would lead to better knowledge of how the mechanics of tomatoes can be correlated across the scales from single cells to the whole fruit and how external forces cause damage to single cells internally. Specific objective 5 (SO5) addressed by Task 5 (Return Phase) is to develop a micromanipulation testing equipment for establishing research capability at HPU. Following his experiences at UoB, Dr Li proposed a design for a micro-mechanical testing system suitable for work at HPU. This design integrated both custom-built mechanical components, electronics and computer-control. The micro-mechanical testing equipment has been geometrical modeled in the Proe 5.0 software. Because of the lack of funding, only several components were bought and made by far. It is expected that some collaboration projects can be obtained to continue this plan. The project is promoted on Dr. Zhiguo Li in his staff profile: http://cmee.nwsuaf.edu.cn/szdw/gjzcry/377490.htm. The project results are promoted on ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net /profile/Zhiguo_Li13 /contributions. The ResearchGate account will remain active to post future results and news with regard to multiscale biomechanics of fruits.
Data: CORDIS, © European Union
Project objective
The quality of fruit such as tomatoes can be reduced substantially by mechanical damage e.g. by poor handling during and post-harvesting. Damage manifested at the whole fruit or macro-scale is caused by failure of cells at the micro-scale, although cells in different tissues (meso-scale) react differently to external forces. Not much is known about how the mechanics of tomatoes across the scales can be correlated and how external forces cause damage to single cells internally. Therefore, the scientific aim of this Fellowship is to model the multi-scale mechanics of tomatoes to provide a tool for investigating internal damage to tomatoes caused by external forces during handling and processing.The first step will be to investigate the multi-scale anatomy of tomatoes. The multi-scale mechanical behavior of tomatoes, their component tissues, and the cells within those tissues will then be characterized. Such anatomical and mechanical data have never been determined fully for one fruit at one time and therefore existing data cannot be used to develop multi-scale mechanical models. The third step will be to develop and validate a multi-scale finite element model using a novel, user-defined 3D cell element type that will allowing all scales to be represented in a single model. Finally, internal mechanical damage to tomatoes caused by externally applied forces in compression tests of whole fruit will be simulated.This Fellowship will provide a valuable tool for investigating mechanical damage to tomatoes caused by external forces during handling and processing. Besides its scientific value, this project will have an impact of the economic efficiency of the European Union. It will be the basis for long-term collaborations between the University of Birmingham, UK and Henan Polytechnic University, China.The Fellow will undertake a broad range of outreach activities, including to schools and industrial and academic colleagues.
Original text from CORDIS.
Participants
- HENAN POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY · JIAO ZUOCoordinatorChina
Links
Data: CORDIS, © European Union