Modeling the hydrological and mechanical effect of roots on shallow landslides

Arnone, Elisa; Caracciolo, Domenico; Noto, Leonardo; Preti, Federico; Bras, Rafael L.

doi:10.1002/2015wr018227

Cited by 87 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 79 publications

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“…RAR values, as obtained by the implementation of the trench method, resulted in the order of 5% or lower, and they are coherent with values known from the literature for similar environmental conditions [23,32,61]. Regarding the depth reached by roots, results are smaller compared to the literature [78,89,90] and show maximum RAR values at a depth of 0.20-0.50 m, in agreement with Li et al [24]. This evidence represents the result of the combined action of nutrient decrease, aeration, water availability and layer compaction.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 85%

Influence of Root Reinforcement on Shallow Landslide Distribution: A Case Study in Garfagnana (Northern Tuscany, Italy)

Marzini,

D’Addario,

Papasidero

et al. 2023

Geosciences

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In this work, we evaluated the influence of root structure on shallow landslide distribution. Root density measurements were acquired in the field and the corresponding root cohesion was estimated. Data were acquired from 150 hillslope deposit trenches dug in areas either devoid or affected by shallow landslides within the Garfagnana Valley (northern Tuscany, Italy). Results highlighted a correlation between the root reinforcement and the location of measurement sites. Namely, lower root density was detected within shallow landslides, with respect to neighboring areas. Root area ratio (RAR) data allowed us to estimate root cohesion by the application of the revised version of the Wu and Waldron Model. Then, we propose a new method for the assimilation of the lateral root reinforcement into the infinite slope model and the limit equilibrium approach by introducing the equivalent root cohesion parameter. The results fall within the range of root cohesion values adopted in most of the physically based shallow landslide susceptibility models known in the literature (mean values ranging between ca. 2 and 3 kPa). Moreover, the results are in line with the scientific literature that has demonstrated the link between root mechanical properties, spatial variability of root reinforcement, and shallow landslide locations.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 85%

Influence of Root Reinforcement on Shallow Landslide Distribution: A Case Study in Garfagnana (Northern Tuscany, Italy)

Marzini,

D’Addario,

Papasidero

et al. 2023

Geosciences

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“…For many slopes, the root depth is usually limited by bedrock, which is usually shallow and less than 2 m [58]. The failure depth of most slopes is between 0.5 m and 1 m, and the root zone plays a role in mechanical stability only when the root depth reaches the deeper soil layer [78]. With an increase in root depth, the FOS first decreased and then increased.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Numerical Analysis of an Explicit Smoothed Particle Finite Element Method on Shallow Vegetated Slope Stability with Different Root Architectures

Jia

Zhang

Wang³

et al. 2022

Sustainability

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Planting vegetation is an environmentally friendly method for reducing landslides. Current vegetated slope analysis fails to consider the influence of different root architectures, and the accuracy and effectiveness of the numerical simulations need to be improved. In this study, an explicit smoothed particle finite element method (eSPFEM) was used to evaluate slope stability under the influence of vegetation roots. The Mohr–Coulomb constitutive model was extended by incorporating apparent root cohesion into the shear strength of the soil. The slope factors of safety (FOS) of four root architectures (uniform, triangular, parabolic, and exponential) for various planting distances, root depths, slope angles, and planting locations were calculated using the shear strength reduction technique with a kinetic energy-based criterion. The results indicated that the higher the planting density, the stronger the reinforcement effect of the roots on the slope. With increasing root depth, the FOS value first decreased and then increased. The FOS value decreased with an increase in slope angle. Planting on the entire ground surface had the best improvement effect on the slope stability, followed by planting vegetation with a uniform root architecture in the upper slope region or planting vegetation with triangular or exponential root architecture on the slope’s toe. Our findings are expected to deepen our understanding of the contributions of different root architectures to vegetated slope protection and guide the selection of vegetation species and planting locations.

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“…Slope reinforcement is, hence, of crucial significance, particularly in those regions with dense populations and important infrastructure. Apart from widely used engineering measures such as anti-piles, retaining walls, etc., vegetation reinforcement, as a part of soil bioengineering, is deemed environmentally friendly in slope stabilization [3][4][5]. Different from bare soils, the existence of roots not only provides mechanical reinforcement but also hydrological effects in vegetated soils, as substantiated in the existing literature, e.g., [3,4].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Stability of Ficus virens-Reinforced Slopes Considering Mechanical and/or Hydrological Effects

Qin,

Wang,

Chen

et al. 2024

Forests

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Vegetation reinforcement for slopes has been recognized as an environment-friendly measure and has been widely adopted in engineering practice. However, the stability analysis of vegetation reinforcement for slopes has mainly been discussed for an infinite slope and common grass and scrub plant species. This study proposes a procedure for analyzing the stability of a finite slope reinforced with Ficus virens under transpiration and rainfall conditions. A simplified empirical model for characterizing root cohesion and triaxial testing is utilized to quantify the mechanical effect of roots on rooted soil shear strength. A numerical modeling technique with COMSOL Multiphysics is used to investigate the hydrological effect of roots. The combination of these two effects forms an expression for the unsaturated shear strength of rooted soils. The stability of a vegetated soil slope is then investigated in terms of safety factors and failure mechanisms, with/without considering rainfall. The results show that the stability solutions without consideration of the roots’ mechanical and/or hydrological effects are overly conservative. The hydrological contribution to slope stability could also be partially preserved under short-term rainfall, and as rainfall continues, the hydrological effect is weakened, while the mechanical reinforcement is assumed to be unchanged. In the meantime, the hydrological contribution to slope stability is susceptible to atmospheric conditions, which indicates a favorable effect on water uptake and an adverse consequence for water infiltration.

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Modeling the hydrological and mechanical effect of roots on shallow landslides

Cited by 87 publications

References 79 publications

Influence of Root Reinforcement on Shallow Landslide Distribution: A Case Study in Garfagnana (Northern Tuscany, Italy)

Influence of Root Reinforcement on Shallow Landslide Distribution: A Case Study in Garfagnana (Northern Tuscany, Italy)

Numerical Analysis of an Explicit Smoothed Particle Finite Element Method on Shallow Vegetated Slope Stability with Different Root Architectures

Stability of Ficus virens-Reinforced Slopes Considering Mechanical and/or Hydrological Effects

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