Micro-Bio-Mechanical Modelling of root growth in soils

Roots will be modelled as bonded DEM particles. By means of simple artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms, the model will include features such as gravitropism, time-dependent root stiffening (thickening), root branching and root tip reorientation based on penetration resistance in the Micro-Bio-Mechanical Modelling of root growth in soils at University of Dundee 

Context of   Micro-Bio-Mechanical Modelling of root growth in soils Micro-Bio-Mechanical Modelling of root growth in soils at University of Dundee University of Dundee  

The extent and the way roots grow in the ground is known to have a fundamental impact on the growth of crop plants as well as on the resistance to lodging induced by storms. Considering that in the UK approximately £60 million per year are lost because of lodging, a better understanding of how and to what depths roots grow into the ground is desirable.

Despite advances in laboratory techniques that have proven to be effective for the visualization of root architectures, reliable predictive models capable of quantifying the pull-out strength do not exist. As the pull out resistance strongly affects lodging vulnerability, reliable numerical models capable of quantifying the pull-out strength would improve existing breading techniques which are known to have a big impact on the agricultural sector by influencing root screening procedures.

In this PhD research project, you will interact with a cross-disciplinary research team in order to develop a new numerical model capable of simultaneously:

• modelling root growth

• subsequently quantifying root pull-out strength