Trees Adjust the Shape of Branch Unions to Increase Their Load-Bearing Capacity
The likelihood of branch union failure often needs to be assessed in tree risk assessment. Most of the guidance used in practice is based on the shape of these forks, specifically the shape (“U” or “V”), the angle between the branches, the presence of lateral bulges, and the aspect ratio of the bran...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-05-01
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| Series: | Forests |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/14/5/1041 |
| _version_ | 1797600030591287296 |
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| author | Steffen Rust |
| author_facet | Steffen Rust |
| author_sort | Steffen Rust |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The likelihood of branch union failure often needs to be assessed in tree risk assessment. Most of the guidance used in practice is based on the shape of these forks, specifically the shape (“U” or “V”), the angle between the branches, the presence of lateral bulges, and the aspect ratio of the branches. This study extends previous studies with a novel approach to the biomechanical analysis of fork shape and contributes results from destructive tests on two important European tree species, using comparatively large trees. Surprisingly, many samples deviated from the expected pattern of constant or decreasing cross-sectional area from the trunk beyond the fork. The results show three mechanisms that counteract the potential weakening at a bifurcation, two of which have not been documented before: an increase in section modulus from the stem base to where the stems part, an increase in section modulus caused by lateral bulging, and an increase in section modulus in the branches caused by an adjusted shape. Neither the shape of the forks nor the amount of included bark had a significant impact on their strength. Like several previous studies, the results of this study caution against the use of simple rules to assess the likelihood of branch union failure. The increasing availability of “digital twins” of urban trees may help us to use these results to assess the shape of branch unions in a quantitative way. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T03:43:42Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7aeda5021704498795f45847e1ac482d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1999-4907 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T03:43:42Z |
| publishDate | 2023-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Forests |
| spelling | doaj.art-7aeda5021704498795f45847e1ac482d2023-11-18T01:25:23ZengMDPI AGForests1999-49072023-05-01145104110.3390/f14051041Trees Adjust the Shape of Branch Unions to Increase Their Load-Bearing CapacitySteffen Rust0Faculty of Resource Management, University of Applied Sciences and Arts, Büsgenweg 1a, 37077 Göttingen, GermanyThe likelihood of branch union failure often needs to be assessed in tree risk assessment. Most of the guidance used in practice is based on the shape of these forks, specifically the shape (“U” or “V”), the angle between the branches, the presence of lateral bulges, and the aspect ratio of the branches. This study extends previous studies with a novel approach to the biomechanical analysis of fork shape and contributes results from destructive tests on two important European tree species, using comparatively large trees. Surprisingly, many samples deviated from the expected pattern of constant or decreasing cross-sectional area from the trunk beyond the fork. The results show three mechanisms that counteract the potential weakening at a bifurcation, two of which have not been documented before: an increase in section modulus from the stem base to where the stems part, an increase in section modulus caused by lateral bulging, and an increase in section modulus in the branches caused by an adjusted shape. Neither the shape of the forks nor the amount of included bark had a significant impact on their strength. Like several previous studies, the results of this study caution against the use of simple rules to assess the likelihood of branch union failure. The increasing availability of “digital twins” of urban trees may help us to use these results to assess the shape of branch unions in a quantitative way.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/14/5/1041tree risk assessmentbranch unionforksbiomechanicsbreaking stressconstant stress |
| spellingShingle | Steffen Rust Trees Adjust the Shape of Branch Unions to Increase Their Load-Bearing Capacity Forests tree risk assessment branch union forks biomechanics breaking stress constant stress |
| title | Trees Adjust the Shape of Branch Unions to Increase Their Load-Bearing Capacity |
| title_full | Trees Adjust the Shape of Branch Unions to Increase Their Load-Bearing Capacity |
| title_fullStr | Trees Adjust the Shape of Branch Unions to Increase Their Load-Bearing Capacity |
| title_full_unstemmed | Trees Adjust the Shape of Branch Unions to Increase Their Load-Bearing Capacity |
| title_short | Trees Adjust the Shape of Branch Unions to Increase Their Load-Bearing Capacity |
| title_sort | trees adjust the shape of branch unions to increase their load bearing capacity |
| topic | tree risk assessment branch union forks biomechanics breaking stress constant stress |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/14/5/1041 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT steffenrust treesadjusttheshapeofbranchunionstoincreasetheirloadbearingcapacity |