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Mechanical analysis of interaction between plant roots and rock and soil mass in slope vegetation

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  • 1. Key Laboratory of Mechanics on Disaster and Environment in Western China(Lanzhou University), Ministry of Education, Lanzhou 730000, P. R. China;
    2. School of Civil Engineering and Mechanics, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, P. R. China;
    3. College of Civil Engineering and Mechanics, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, P. R. China;
    4. Air Force Engineering Design & Research Bureau, Beijing 100077, P. R. China

Received date: 2009-10-07

  Revised date: 2010-03-26

  Online published: 2010-05-01

Abstract

With the help of plant roots, slope vegetation makes the slope soil mass become a composite material of soil and roots, and thus enhances shear strength of the slope soil mass and stability of the slope. However, the related studies at present are still qualitative. In this paper, quantitative analysis of the interaction between roots and soil mass are made. By the analysis of the interaction between herbaceous plant roots including lateral roots of woody plants and rock and soil mass, a mechanical model of the interaction between frictional roots and soil is established, and its correctness is shown. A mechanical model of the interaction between anchorage root, namely, woody plant taproot, and soil is also established. The establishment of the models provides a useful means in quantitative analysis of the interaction between plant roots and soil, and has practical values.

Cite this article

YAN Zhi-Xin;SONG Yun;JIANG Ping;WANG Hou-Yu . Mechanical analysis of interaction between plant roots and rock and soil mass in slope vegetation[J]. Applied Mathematics and Mechanics, 2010 , 31(5) : 617 -622 . DOI: 10.1007/s10483-010-0509-9

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