Wood as a biomaterial is the product of cell formation over time. Consequently, external factors, such as climate and stand parameters, have a strong influence, not only on wood growth itself, but also on the mechanical behaviour of the formed structure.
The influence of external factors on wood growth is the subject of dendroecological research. By studying the annual rings of individual trees within selected stands, dendroecologists are looking for patterns that describe the interaction between the tree’s cell formation and its surrounding habitat. In some cases, these findings serve as the base for the prediction of forest health in the context of climate change.
Using the example of the Brandenburg pine, we want to develop a holistic approach for the assessment of the mechanical properties of wood, while also taking its growth conditions into account. For this purpose, we are combining dendroecological methods with classical material testing, in order to evaluate the influence of climate, stand and wood growth parameters. By development of a suitable sample preparation and documentation, we can trace each analyzed sample back to its position in the individual tree and its localization within the stand, which allows us to estimate the influence of environmental factors on the formation of the tested wood structure. Building on this, we hope to be able to predict the mechanical properties of future Scots pine from Brandenburg’s forests, based on existing climate predictions.
Keywords: dendroecology, mechanical properties, Scots Pine, climate change
Authors
Tobias Bender
University for Sustainable Development Eberswalde (HNEE), Germany
Jens Schröder
University for Sustainable Development Eberswalde (HNEE), Germany
Alexander Pfriem
University for Sustainable Development Eberswalde (HNEE), Germany
Linnea Hesse
Universität Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany,
Login to download the PDF