Finite Element Simulation to Determine Tree Safety Factor Using Geoelectrical Mapping as an Input

Abstract

The distribution of stress and strain of the root in the ground can be used to determine the stability of a tree. The distribution itself is affected by the root architectural factor, the shear and tensile strength of ground and tree, and the geometry. The root architectures are mapped using geoelectrical method. In this method we use dipole-dipole configuration. Geophysical data acquisition was carried out with 6 lines of 3 m length, 25 cm electrode spacing and radial orientation around the target tree to map the distribution of the secondary root, an also a line of 15 m length, 1 m spacing and east-west orientation to map the maximum depth of the primary root. This research is conducted in Lapangan Sipil of Institut Teknologi Bandung. Geophysical data inversion is done to get the root architecture. The geoelectric data processing is done using RES2DINV software. We obtain the shear and tensile strength of the ground from literature study. The inversion result and literature data are used as input to do finite element situation to get the distribution of stress and strain of the tree and the ground. Finally, the result of the simulation can be used to determine the safety factor of the tree in certain weather.