AEROELASTIC MODELLING OF TREES SUSCEPTIBLE TO WINDTHROW DAMAGE.

Objective

TO STUDY THE AEROELASTIC INTERACTION BETWEEN CONIFEROUS TREES AND THE WIND USING SMALL SCALE MODELS IN A WIND TUNNEL.

IT IS PROPOSED TO DEVELOP A SIMPLE DESIGN OF AEROELASTIC MODEL TREE WHICH IS DYNAMICALLY SIMILAR TO A TYPICAL CLOSE-PLANTED CONIFER AT A SCALE OF BETWEEN 1/50 TO 1/75. ARRAYS OF THESE MODELS WILL PROVIDE NOT ONLY A REALISTIC FOREST SIMULATION IN THE WIND TUNNEL, BUT WILL ALSO OFFER THE FACILITY FOR INSTANT VARIATION OF TREE SPACING AND STAND LAYOUT.

WITHIN THE ARRAY, ONE OR MORE SELECTED TREE MODELS WILL BE MOUNTED ON SPECIALLY DEVELOPED STRAIN-GAUGE BALANCES TO MEASURE THE UNSTEADY BENDING MOMENT AT THE BASE, INDUCED BY THE FLUCTUATING WIND LOAD AND BY THE VIBRATION RESPONSE OF THE MODEL.

THE RELATIONSHIP THAT IS SOUGHT BETWEEN THE MEASURED OVERTURNING MOMENTS ON FOREST TREES AND THE MEASURED WIND VELOCITY AND TURBULANCE REPRESENTS A SIGNIFICANT AND SUBSTANTIAL ADVANCE IN KNOWLEDGE WHICH IS OF GREAT IMPORTANCE IN RELATION TO THE PREDICTION AND ULTIMATELY THE PREVENTION OF WINDTHROW DAMAGE TO TREE CROPS.

Programme(s)

• FP1-RAWMAT 3C - Research programme (EEC) on materials (raw materials and advanced materials), 1986-1989

Funding Scheme

CSC - Cost-sharing contracts

Coordinator

NATURAL ENVIRONMENT RESEARCH COUNCIL

Address

C/o Bush Estate
EH26 0QB Penicuik
United Kingdom