Wind and Structures
Volume 42, Number 2, 2026, pages 215-239
DOI: 10.12989/was.2026.42.2.215
Aerodynamic and dynamic characteristics of an aeroelastic tree model with a range of crown porosity
Alessia Piazza , Anwar D. Awol , Girma T. Bitsuamlak , Maria Pia Repetto
Abstract
Many major cities worldwide have recently initiated tree-planting programs to improve the resilience of
urban environment based on several environmental and social benefits of trees. However, wind loads are known to
have a significant impact on trees, and presently, little is known about tree aerodynamics. A wind tunnel test at
BLWTL of Western University was carried out to investigate the aerodynamic loads and response of a tree using an
aeroelastic model with a range of crown porosity. These loads reflect the level of alteration imparted to the
momentum of the flow by the presence of trees. This study estimates the changes in the aerodynamic behavior of a
tree all around the year, due to seasonal change of leaves by considering different crown porosities. The drag force on
the tree was found to vary quadratically with the wind speed, consistent with the literature for stiff trees. Moreover,
the results show that for an aerodynamic porosity greater than 0.6, the drag coefficient decreases drastically for all the
wind speeds considered in the study.
Key Words
sustainability; tree aerodynamics; wind tunnel
Address
- Alessia Piazza — 1)Department of Civil, Chemical and Environmental Engineering (DICCA), University of Genoa, Via Montallegro 1, 16145 Genoa, Italy 2)WindEEE Research Facility/Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Western University, London ON, N6A 5B9, Canada
- Anwar D. Awol — WindEEE Research Facility/Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Western University, London ON, N6A 5B9, Canada
- Girma T. Bitsuamlak — WindEEE Research Facility/Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Western University, London ON, N6A 5B9, Canada
- Maria Pia Repetto — Department of Civil, Chemical and Environmental Engineering (DICCA), University of Genoa, Via Montallegro 1, 16145 Genoa, Italy
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