Modelling hydro-mechanical reinforcements of plants to slope stability

J J  Ni; A. K. Leung; C. W. W. Ng; W Shao

doi:10.1016/j.compgeo.2017.09.001

Modelling hydro-mechanical reinforcements of plants to slope stability

J J Ni, A. K. Leung (Lead / Corresponding author), C. W. W. Ng, W Shao

Civil Engineering

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

124 Citations (Scopus)

306 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

The study investigates plant reinforcement to the stability of coarse-grained soil slopes, exploring the relative contribution of mechanical root reinforcement and hydrological effects of plant-induced matric suction. A numerical model is used to capture both mechanical root reinforcement and hydrological effects, including evapotranspiration with different root architectures and root-induced changes in soil water retention curve and hydraulic conductivity. Mechanical reinforcement is effective only in shallow depths, where the most root biomass exists. Hydrological reinforcement is much more significant in deeper depths (>1 m), but this effect could vanish due to root-induced increase in hydraulic conductivity.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	99-109
Number of pages	11
Journal	Computers and Geotechnics
Volume	95
Early online date	14 Oct 2017
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compgeo.2017.09.001
Publication status	Published - Mar 2018

Keywords

Matric suction
Mechanical reinforcement
Plant transpiration
Slope stability

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Geotechnical Engineering and Engineering Geology
Computer Science Applications

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10.1016/j.compgeo.2017.09.001Licence: CC BY

Final Published Version
Copyright 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Final published version, 2.23 MBLicence: CC BY

Cite this

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title = "Modelling hydro-mechanical reinforcements of plants to slope stability",

abstract = "The study investigates plant reinforcement to the stability of coarse-grained soil slopes, exploring the relative contribution of mechanical root reinforcement and hydrological effects of plant-induced matric suction. A numerical model is used to capture both mechanical root reinforcement and hydrological effects, including evapotranspiration with different root architectures and root-induced changes in soil water retention curve and hydraulic conductivity. Mechanical reinforcement is effective only in shallow depths, where the most root biomass exists. Hydrological reinforcement is much more significant in deeper depths (>1 m), but this effect could vanish due to root-induced increase in hydraulic conductivity.",

keywords = "Matric suction, Mechanical reinforcement, Plant transpiration, Slope stability",

author = "Ni, {J J} and Leung, {A. K.} and Ng, {C. W. W.} and W Shao",

note = "We acknowledge research grants HKUST6/CRF/12R awarded by the Research Grants Council of the Government of the Hong Kong SAR. The second author acknowledges the EU Marie Curie Career Integration Grant under the project {\textquoteleft}BioEPIC slope{\textquoteright} and research travel support from the Northern Research Partnership (NRP).",

year = "2018",

month = mar,

doi = "10.1016/j.compgeo.2017.09.001",

language = "English",

volume = "95",

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journal = "Computers and Geotechnics",

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T1 - Modelling hydro-mechanical reinforcements of plants to slope stability

AU - Ni, J J

AU - Leung, A. K.

AU - Ng, C. W. W.

AU - Shao, W

N1 - We acknowledge research grants HKUST6/CRF/12R awarded by the Research Grants Council of the Government of the Hong Kong SAR. The second author acknowledges the EU Marie Curie Career Integration Grant under the project ‘BioEPIC slope’ and research travel support from the Northern Research Partnership (NRP).

PY - 2018/3

Y1 - 2018/3

N2 - The study investigates plant reinforcement to the stability of coarse-grained soil slopes, exploring the relative contribution of mechanical root reinforcement and hydrological effects of plant-induced matric suction. A numerical model is used to capture both mechanical root reinforcement and hydrological effects, including evapotranspiration with different root architectures and root-induced changes in soil water retention curve and hydraulic conductivity. Mechanical reinforcement is effective only in shallow depths, where the most root biomass exists. Hydrological reinforcement is much more significant in deeper depths (>1 m), but this effect could vanish due to root-induced increase in hydraulic conductivity.

AB - The study investigates plant reinforcement to the stability of coarse-grained soil slopes, exploring the relative contribution of mechanical root reinforcement and hydrological effects of plant-induced matric suction. A numerical model is used to capture both mechanical root reinforcement and hydrological effects, including evapotranspiration with different root architectures and root-induced changes in soil water retention curve and hydraulic conductivity. Mechanical reinforcement is effective only in shallow depths, where the most root biomass exists. Hydrological reinforcement is much more significant in deeper depths (>1 m), but this effect could vanish due to root-induced increase in hydraulic conductivity.

KW - Matric suction

KW - Mechanical reinforcement

KW - Plant transpiration

KW - Slope stability

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U2 - 10.1016/j.compgeo.2017.09.001

DO - 10.1016/j.compgeo.2017.09.001

M3 - Article

SN - 0266-352X

VL - 95

SP - 99

EP - 109

JO - Computers and Geotechnics

JF - Computers and Geotechnics

ER -

Modelling hydro-mechanical reinforcements of plants to slope stability

Abstract

Keywords

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Climate-Change Effects on the Performace of Bioengineered Clay Fill Embankments

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Modelling hydro-mechanical reinforcements of plants to slope stability

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Climate-Change Effects on the Performace of Bioengineered Clay Fill Embankments

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