Authors: Braxton Fjeldsted, Joseph Carter, Grant Ogilvie, Josh Hoffman
Mentors: Douglas Cook
Insitution: Brigham Young University
Finding ways to improve crop durability through 3D modeling has tremendous potential to help save plants, time, and resources. Currently, there are many important material properties of maize stalks that have not yet been measured, which presents challenges in creating accurate 3D models. Through sensitivity analysis, it was determined that one of the most critical unknown material properties of maize stalks for creating accurate models is the transverse shear modulus. In this research, we created a testing procedure to determine the shear modulus as accurately as possible. Each sample was put in a torsion test to determine the relationship between the torsion torque and the torsion angle. Both fresh and dry samples were tested in addition to samples with and without the pith. Our team implemented methods to minimize inaccuracies from slipping, cracking, and other imperfections in all elements of the stalks. The transverse shear modulus that we have determined will help to more accurately model maize stalks, thereby making future tests by modeling more efficient and working to provide a path towards improved global maize harvests.