Abstract:
To better protect the health of tree trunks and reduce their risk of wind breakage, this paper explores the break rule of tree trunk under different wind loads. Using the characteristics of tree self-similarity and self-affinity, a geometric model of the above ground part of trees with diversified structural morphology is constructed based on the idea of parametric modeling. Under the action of wind load, three common trees (
Populus tomentosa Carrière
, Ulmus pumila L. and
Picea koraiensis Nakai) in Northeast China were simulated by using the principle of fluid-structure coupling and finite element theory. The simulation results show that the resistance of trees to trunk break is affected by structural form, diameter at breast height (DBH) and tree species, For the same species, DBH is the most significant factor. The larger the DBH, the stronger its resistance to trunk break. And the resistance to trunk break of the different tree species is different. When the wind speed reaches 15 m/s,
Populus alba with a diameter at breast height of less than 18 cm is prone to trunk break and collapse;
U. pumila with a diameter at breast height of less than 15 cm is at risk of trunk break when wind speed increases to 20 m/s. Deformation and tilt data are obtained by tensile testing in field. When the applied tension force is in the range of 0-0.6 kN, the deformation value of
P. tomentosa is 17.65-32.47 μm, and the tilt is 0.046°-0.101°; the deformation value of
U. pumila is 8.67-22.34 μm, and the tilt is 0.008°-0.04°; and the deformation value of
Picea asperata is 0.93-2.46 μm, and the tilt is 0.031°-0.061° . The accuracy of the simulation results was verified.