IFLYSIB 05383
INSTITUTO DE FISICA DE LIQUIDOS Y SISTEMAS BIOLOGICOS
Unidad Ejecutora - UE
congresos y reuniones científicas
Título:
A mathematical model for the vulnerability curve
Autor/es:
ARIEL MEYRA , VICTOR A. KUZ , AND GUILLERMO J. ZARRAGOICOECHEA
Lugar:
Santa Fe, Argentina
Reunión:
Simposio; Fluidos 2008; 2008
Resumen:
Hydraulic conductivity and cavitation pressure experimental data are ad hoc correlated with properties of xylem vessels. The mathematical model presented here links the loss of hydraulic conductivity, cavitation pressure, geometric and physicochemical properties of the xylem vascular system. Via a dimensional analysis and considering cavitation as a limited growth process, it is obtained a dimensionless Verhulst differential equation. The self similar theoretical solution is a sigmoidal function with only one control parameter. The model shows the relation between vulnerability curves with intrinsic properties of xylem vessel elements. It is concluded that characteristic dimensions and mechanical properties of the vessel elements regulate the loss of hydraulic conductivity or the discharge as a function of xylem sap pressure.
