A Physics-Based Model for Tree and Branch Vibrations

Summary

Research into tree biomechanics, represents the best hope for understanding tree motion and failure at a fundamental level. A particularly e ff ective means for examining the biomechanical response of a tree or a group of trees is through mathematical modeling. In particular, physics-based models provide a rigorous process for quantifying the mechanical response in an unambiguous way. Results from this physics-based link model demonstrate that, for small motion, the tree response may be constructed from the individual mode shapes and frequencies. This work also demonstrates the limitations of the linear theory as well as numerical solutions that can be obtained when trunk/branch amplitudes are large.