Biomechanical properties of beech wood from 9 European stands

In-situ assessment of maturation strains at the trunk periphery of 89 beech trees from 9 stands of 5 European countries, combined with laboratory measurements of ring width (RW), wood density (D) and wood specific modulus (SM), were used to examine biomechanical aspects of juvenility corresponding to young stages of the tree, as well as the correlation or trade-off between sapwood pre-stressing and the generation of forces in the living wood layer used to control tree posture. The radial variations of RW, D and SM, averaged over 86 trees, as well as the level of prestress are growth forces at stem periphery, are analysed in the related paper submitted for recommendation to the PCI Forest and Wood Science.