Maksym Netsvetov, Varvara Nikulina
Seasonal variations of oscillation and vibration parameters of Acer platanoides
Dendrobiology 2010, vol. 64: 37-42
Abstract: This article describes an investigation into the seasonal variations of frequency, damping ratio and amplitude of swaying and vibration of Norway maple Acer platanoides L. The study was carried through a series of pull and release experiments in situ and on branches in the laboratory using an artificial air flow. It was found that foliated trees had a natural sway frequency that was on average 1.6±0.2 times greater than in the out-of-leaf state. In contrast, the damping ratio of maple increased by 1.5±0.3 times in the summer period. The stem swaying initiated vibrations, i.e. elastic wave, in the roots with frequencies in the range of 45-50 Hz. Laboratory tests showed that the vibration amplitude of branches depended linearly on leaf mass for an air flow velocity of 1.94 m/s.
Additional key words: maple, swaying, frequency, damping ratio