title: Leonardo's rule, self-similarity, and wind-induced stresses in trees.
abstract: Examining botanical trees, Leonardo da Vinci noted that the total cross section of branches is conserved across branching nodes. In this Letter, it is proposed that this rule is a consequence of the tree skeleton having a self-similar structure and the branch diameters being adjusted to resist wind-induced loads.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla California 92093-0411, USA.
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Eloy
mesh_terms: D003198:Computer Simulation; D008954:Models, Biological; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000502:physiology*; D014197:Trees / Q000502:physiology*; D014919:Wind