Wood: The Internal Optimization of Trees

Wood is a biological structure well-adapted to external loading. It carries axial loads in a tree by longitudinal fibres and radial loads by rays; circumferential compressive growth stresses prevent the tree from splitting along the rays. It is shown that axial and lateral strength is highest at places of maximum loading. Also, growth stresses are distributed in a load-controlled way. This text shows how a tree is internally optimized and how the partial or global breakdown of this interwoven axial and radial optimization can lead to the different failure modes of a tree.