Sway Frequency in Tree Stems

Assessing potential risks in trees is difficult because of the complex and chaotic nature of gauging tree failures. Tree movements in the wind, and the interactions between/within tree structure and soils, assure a multitude of forces, loads, and stress concentration points will need to be a part of any tree failure model. In order to better understand tree structure and its potential failure, individual components of tree mechanics need to be isolated from the complexity. One mechanical component arising from stem and branch shape is a repeating, damped movement back and forth by the free end--commonly called "sway.''

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