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- Computer tomography (CT) (1) (entfernen)
Branch junctions are mechanically particularly
interesting areas of trees, because they have to withstand a
combination of static and dynamic loads, from the stem as
well as from the branch. In the present work, the local
adaptation of material properties at branch junctions was
assessed by mapping microfibril angle and tissue density.
Images of the density distribution were obtained by computer
tomography (CT). Wide angle X-ray scattering
(WAXS) was used to determine the microfibril angle distribution
with high-resolution around the junctions. The
stem tissue around the junctions showed increased density
and microfibril angle, which points towards an optimisation
for fracture toughness. The tissue at the branch bases
showed low density combined with high MFA, which
provides deformability and flexibility and might act as
protection of the stem against load transmission from the
branch.