Values of Selected Strength Parameters of Miscanthus × Giganteus Stalk Depending on Water Content and Internode Number

Abstract

So far, there are no results for research on the biomechanical parameters of giant miscanthus stalks taking into account both the influence of moisture content and the internode, from which the samples were taken. Therefore, the aim of the research was to comprehensively investigate the influence of the internode number (NrNod) and water content (MC) on the values of selected biomechanical parameters (modulus of elasticity and maximum stress) determined using various stress tests (three-point bending and compression along the fibers). The research was carried out for dry stalks of different humidities and for different internodes. The results obtained in this study proved that the independent variables of the water content and the internode number cause a statistically significant influence on the values of the examined biomechanical parameters of the miscanthus stem: the modulus of elasticity in compression, the maximum stress in compression, the modulus of elasticity in bending and the maximum stress in bending. The values of the modulus of elasticity (MOE) increase when increasing the NrNod. For individual internodes, MOE values are higher with a higher MC. The values of the maximum stress (σ) also increase when increasing the internode number. For individual internodes, the σ values are lower with a higher MC.