A Static Pulling Test Is a Suitable Method for Comparison of the Loading Resistance of Silver Birch (Betula pendula Roth.) between Urban and Peri-Urban Forests

In urbanized areas, wind disturbances can be intensified by anthropogenic stresses under which trees may become hazardous, creating serious threats and damages to nearby targets. Therefore, species with notably lower both wood mechanical properties and compartmentalization, such as pioneers, are con...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Forests 2022-01, Vol.13 (1), p.127
Main Authors: Krišāns, Oskars, Čakša, Linda, Matisons, Roberts, Rust, Steffen, Elferts, Didzis, Seipulis, Andris, Jansons, Āris
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Anthropogenic factors
Betula pendula
Birch trees
Climate change
Forests
Hardwoods
Load resistance
Mechanical properties
Populus tremula
Precipitation
Species
Stability analysis
tree-pulling tests
Trees
Urban areas
urban forest
Wind
Wind damage
wind resistance
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Summary:In urbanized areas, wind disturbances can be intensified by anthropogenic stresses under which trees may become hazardous, creating serious threats and damages to nearby targets. Therefore, species with notably lower both wood mechanical properties and compartmentalization, such as pioneers, are considered to have higher wind damage risk if subjected to unfavorable growing conditions. Eurasian aspen (Populus tremula L.) and silver birch (Betula pendula Roth.), are frequently found in both urban and peri-urban forests in Northeastern and Central parts of Europe, which strengthen the necessity for the evaluation of mechanical stability of such species. Therefore, static pulling tests were performed to compare the mechanical stability of the studied species in both urban and peri-urban forests. The loading resistance of the studied species differed, with birch being more stable than aspen, indicating aspen to be more prone to wind damage. Additionally, the mechanical stability of birch did not differ between trees growing in urban and peri-urban forests, suggesting static pulling tests are a suitable method for comparing trees from completely different growing conditions.
ISSN:1999-4907
1999-4907
DOI:10.3390/f13010127