基于X-rayμCT技术的玉米干燥损伤定量研究

应力裂纹是玉米干燥损伤的主要形式,一些微裂纹无法肉眼观察但影响玉米的机械强度、发芽率以及活力等。为此,利用X-rayμCT技术对不同干燥条件下玉米进行扫描,使用深度学习算法分割与胚乳密度相近的胚区域并结合软件对玉米内部物性特征参数进行提取,提出了一种新的玉米内部损伤定量评价方法。结合定量研究结果提出的玉米干燥损伤模型,可为玉米损伤预测提供新思路。

基于X-rayμCT技术的玉米籽粒结构特征的粒位效应分析

玉米籽粒因其在果穗上着生位置不同存在较大差异,明确籽粒结构特征的粒位效应为玉米的消费、加工和播种质量等玉米产量和品质性状的评价提供参考。该研究以3个不同籽粒类型的玉米品种登海618(DH618)、KX3564和先玉335(XY335)为材料,利用X射线计算机断层(X-ray micro-computed tomography,X-rayμCT)技术扫描测试样本,通过图像滤波、阈值分割等图像分析方法重建籽粒3维结构,获取玉米果穗不同粒位籽粒的胚、胚乳、皮下空腔、胚空腔、硬质胚乳、粉质胚乳、胚乳空腔等结构参数。数据分析表明,籽粒不同结构指标在果穗上呈现不同的变化规律,从基部到顶部(不考虑果穗两端的极端籽粒),胚、胚乳及硬质胚乳体积线性下降,各指标在果穗上的变化范围分别为15.82~33.36、180.15~296.50及87.13~166.00 mm^(3);胚乳空腔>皮下空腔>胚空腔,果穗中部籽粒的空腔较小且稳定,3个品种表现一致;胚与胚乳的比值在粒位间基本稳定,粉质胚乳体积、硬质胚乳与粉质胚乳的比值从基部至顶部逐渐减小,但不同指标的变化斜率存在差异。3个供试品种的籽粒结构参数不同:DH618果穗不同部位籽粒胚与胚乳的比值大于KX3564和XY335,XY335籽粒硬质胚乳与粉质胚乳的比值大于DH618和KX3564。在籽粒空腔方面,KX3564皮下空腔的比例较高,而XY335胚乳空腔的比例较高。3个品种胚、胚乳、皮下空腔体积在玉米籽粒中的比例平均分别为9.27%、89.87%、0.86%。X-rayμCT扫描技术为玉米籽粒性状的研究提供新的方法与思路,明确果穗籽粒结构的粒位效应有利于全面地掌握玉米果穗上籽粒的性状特征,为玉米的生产、加工及品种改良等提供借鉴。

Visualizing Complex Anatomical Structure in Bamboo Nodes Based on X-ray Microtomography

In recent years,bamboo has been widely used in a broad range of applications,a thorough understanding of the structural characteristics of bamboo nodes is essential for better processing and manufacturing of biomimetic materials.This study investigated the complex anatomical structure for the nodes of two bamboo species,Indocalamus latifolius(Keng)McClure and Shibataea chinensis Nakai,using a high-resolution X-ray microtomography(μCT).The results show that the vascular bundle system in the nodal region of I.latifolius and S.chinensis is a net-like structure composed of horizontal and axial vascular bundles.Furthermore,the fiber sheath surrounding metaxylem vessels tended to be shorter in the tangential direction.This structure of bamboo nodes facilitates the tangential and axial transport of moisture and nutrients.The anatomical structure of I.latifolius and S.chinensis nodes has obvious differences,especially in the arrangement of vascular bundles.Vascular bundle frequency was significantly higher in S.chinensis nodes than in I.latifolius nodes.These findings indicate thatμCT is a nondestructive three-dimensional imaging method that can used to examine the anatomical structure of bamboo nodes.

Microstructure and anisotropic swelling behaviour of compacted bentonite/sand mixture

Pre-compacted elements （disks, tutus） of bentonite/sand mixture are candidate materials for sealing plugs of radioactive waste disposal. Choice of this material is mainly based on its swelling capacity allowing all gaps in the system to be sealed, and on its low permeability. When emplaced in the gallery, these elements will start to absorb water from the host rock and swell. Thereby, a swelling pressure will develop in the radial direction against the host rock and in the axial direction against the support structure. In this work, the swelling pressure of a small scale compacted disk of bentonite and sand was experimentally studied in both radial and axial directions. Different swelling kinetics were identified for different dry densities and along different directions. As a rule, the swelling pressure starts increasing quickly, reaches a peak value, decreases a little and finally stabilises. For some dry densities, higher peaks were observed in the radial direction than in the axial direction. The presence of peaks is related to the microstructure change and to the collapse of macro- pores. In parallel to the mechanical tests, microstructure investigation at the sample scale was conducted using microfocus X-ray computed tomography （BCT）. Image observation showed a denser structure in the centre and a looser one in the border, which was also confirmed by image analysis. This structure heterogeneity in the radial direction and the occurrence of macro-pores close to the radial boundary of the sample can explain the large peaks observed in the radial swelling pressure evolution. Another interesting result is the higher anisotropy found at lower bentonite dry densities, which was also analysed by means ofμCT observation of a sample at low bentonite dry density after the end of test. It was found that the macro-pores, especially those between sand grains, were not filled by swelled bentonite, which preserved the anisotropic microstructure caused by uniaxial compression due to the absence of microstructure collapse.

Kernel position effects of grain morphological characteristics by X-ray micro-computed tomography (μCT)

Grain size and shape are important factors for yield and quality.The difference in grain phenotypic characteristics in the same maize hybrid is related to its position in the ear.This study aimed to clarify the distribution characteristics of grain morphological characteristics in the ear and to provide guidance for research of grain phenotype and kernel position effects.Three maize hybrids were used in the experiment,namely,Denghai 618(DH618),KX3564,and Xianyu 335(XY335),and the kernel number per row were 40,40,and 36,respectively.The X-rayμCT was applied to obtain five kernel morphological indicators,including grain length,width,thickness,volume,surface area.Grain sphericity,length-width ratio,specific surface area,and volume coefficient were further calculated.The results showed that there were three types of maize ear morphological indicators trends:grain length,width,volume,and surface area were parabolic;thickness and sphericity were inverted parabolic;length-to-width ratio and specific surface area were irregular.The volume coefficient of grain at different parts of the ear,namely the relation coefficient between grain volume and grain length,width,and thickness,was determined.The average value of the middle grains morphological indicators of the ear was taken to select kernels representing stable characteristics of the variety.Within the range of 5%deviation from the morphological mean value of the middle grains of the ear,the grains in the middle part accounted for 26.39%of the total ear,about 10 grains extending from the 14th grain at the base of the ear to the top.Within the range of 10%deviation,the middle accounted for 47.22%,about 18 grains extending from the 12th grain at the base of the ear to the top.This study found that grain morphological indicators were greatly different at different positions of the maize ear,and showed different change rules as extend from the base to the top of the ear.Therefore,there were different grain volume coefficients at different positions of maize ear.And the representative sampling range on maize ear was determined based on the comprehensive analysis of different morphological indexes variation of grain.

Effect of morphological gene mutation and decay on energy dissipation behaviour of granular soils

In this paper,the X-ray micro-computed tomography(X-rayμCT),spherical harmonical-based principal component analysis(SH-PCA),and discrete element method(DEM)were incorporated to generate virtual samples with morphological gene mutation at different length scales.All samples were subjected to axial compression and constant confining stress.The effects of multiscale particle morphology on the stress-strain and energy storage/dissipation responses of granular soils were investigated.It is found that:(a)the effects of particle morphology on the initial stiffness,stress-strain,volumetric strain,and frictional energy dissipation behaviours are more pronounced for looser samples than for denser ones;(b)among different length scales,the particle morphology at the local roundness-level outperforms the one at the general form-level in dictating the macro-scale responses of granular soils;(c)the energy dissipation of a granular assemblage is a result of competition between particle morphology and initial void ratio.