Mechanical Properties and Optimization Strategies of Tree Fork Structures.

Trees are complex and dynamic living structures, where structural stability is essential for survival and for public safety in urban environments. Tree forks, as structural junctions, are key to tree integrity but are prone to failure under stress. The specific mechanical contributions of their internal conical structures remain largely unexplored.

Physiological and Physical Strategies to Minimize Damage at the Branch-Stem Junction of Trees: Using the Finite Element Method to Analyze Stress in Four Branch-Stem Features.

This study analyzed the mechanical and physiological strategies associated with four features in the branch-stem junction of a tree, namely the U-shaped branch attachment, the branch collar, the branch bark ridge, and the roughened lower stem. Models were established for each stage of tree growth by adding these four features sequentially to a base model, and the finite element method (FEM) was employed to create three-dimensional models of an Acer tree's branch-stem structure for static force analysis. According to the results, the development of the branch collar shifted the point of breakage to the outer part of the collar and, thus, constituted a physiological strategy that prevented decay in the stem.