JXB Advance Access originally published online on April 18, 2005
Journal of Experimental Botany 2005 56(416):1563-1573; doi:10.1093/jxb/eri151
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
RESEARCH PAPER |
A mechanical analysis of the relationship between free oscillations of Pinus pinaster Ait. saplings and their aerial architecture
1EPHYSE INRA, BP 81, F-33883 Villenave d'Ornon Cedex, France
2CIRAD, LRBB, Domaine de L'hermitage, 69 route d'Arcachon, F-33612 Cestas Cedex, France
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. Fax: +33 5 57 12 24 20. E-mail: sellier{at}lrbb.u-bordeaux.fr
The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of aerial architecture on the dynamic characteristics of young maritime pines (Pinus pinaster Ait.) using a mechanistic approach. For this purpose, three 4-year-old saplings with prominent differences in their branching patterns were submitted to free oscillation tests. The tests were carried out with different methods and directions of mechanical loading in order to initiate the movement of each sapling. The oscillations of the different architectural elements, i.e. stem and branches of different topological order, were measured with inclinometers and strain gauges fixed to saplings. Successive pruning of the architectural elements was carried out to evaluate their relative influence on the dynamic characteristics of the trees. The aerial systems were digitized before the mechanical tests in order to use 3D visualization techniques and to make architectural analyses of the crown structure. Two distinct modes of deformation were detected during free oscillations. The natural swaying frequency ranged from 0.6–0.8 Hz for the saplings tested at the same period of the year. The frequency variations were partly explained by the morphological differences of the experimental subjects. The motions of the axes were found to depend on their topology, i.e. the movement of the axes of a given branching order was forced by the movement of their respective bearing axis. The axes of third branching order had a significant and negative effect on the damping of the natural deformation mode. Results point out the major role played by foliage, qualitatively and quantitatively, on the damping of tree motions and on coupling the motions of the crown components.
Key words: Aerial architecture, damping, oscillations, tree biomechanics
CiteULike 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  D. Sellier and T. Fourcaud Crown structure and wood properties: Influence on tree sway and response to high winds Am. J. Botany, May 1, 2009; 96(5): 885 - 896. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. Rodriguez, E. d. Langre, and B. Moulia A scaling law for the effects of architecture and allometry on tree vibration modes suggests a biological tuning to modal compartmentalization Am. J. Botany, December 1, 2008; 95(12): 1523 - 1537. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 D. Sellier, Y. Brunet, and T. Fourcaud A numerical model of tree aerodynamic response to a turbulent airflow Forestry, July 1, 2008; 81(3): 279 - 297. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 T. Fourcaud, X. Zhang, A. Stokes, H. Lambers, and C. Korner Plant Growth Modelling and Applications: The Increasing Importance of Plant Architecture in Growth Models Ann. Bot., May 1, 2008; 101(8): 1053 - 1063. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
H.-C. Spatz, F. Bruchert, and J. Pfisterer Multiple resonance damping or how do trees escape dangerously large oscillations? Am. J. Botany, October 1, 2007; 94(10): 1603 - 1611. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
K. R. James, N. Haritos, and P. K. Ades Mechanical stability of trees under dynamic loads Am. J. Botany, October 1, 2006; 93(10): 1522 - 1530. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. Read and A. Stokes Plant biomechanics in an ecological context Am. J. Botany, October 1, 2006; 93(10): 1546 - 1565. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|