Open AccessFailure Mode and Prediction of the Strength of Branch Attachments
Author(s) -
Brian Kane,
Robert Farrell,
Shepard M. Zedaker,
Joseph R. Loferski,
Denis Smith
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
arboriculture and urban forestry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.222
H-Index - 47
eISSN - 2155-0778
pISSN - 1935-5297
DOI - 10.48044/jauf.2008.042
Subject(s) - breaking strength , context (archaeology) , trunk , failure mode and effects analysis , stress (linguistics) , structural engineering , materials science , mathematics , composite material , geology , engineering , botany , biology , paleontology , linguistics , philosophy
Predicting the strength of branch attachments is important for arborists and urban foresters because branch failure can cause damage and injuries. Previous studies have shown that the ratio of branch to trunk diameter is a better predictor of strength than the angle of attachment. Aside from these two factors, however, few other morphological measures of the attachment have been investigated with respect to predicting the strength of attachments. Many branch attachments from three species were broken on a testing machine and breaking stress was calculated. Prior to breaking, various morphological measures and ratios describing the attachment were made. Breaking stress varied by form of the attachment (u-shaped or v-shaped), failure mode, and the presence of included bark. The best predictor of breaking stress was the ratio of branch to trunk diameters. Results are discussed in the context of previous studies and with respect to tree risk assessment.