Influences of root concentration and suction on Chrysopogon zizanioides reinforcement of soil

Abstract

The influences of root concentration and suction were investigated on Chrysopogon zizanioides (vetiver grass) root-reinforcement of clayey sand, using suction-monitored direct shear tests at four different suctions ranging from zero to 50 kPa. The vetiver grass specimens were grown in containers for about a year until they showed various root concentrations prior to testing. Of all suctions, soil samples with greater root concentrations had a higher peak strength and were more ductile than those without roots. Unsaturated root-reinforced soils contracted while the non-reinforced soils dilated during shearing. The rate of increase in root cohesion with root concentrations were highest at the suctions around 20 kPa. The rates of increase in shear strength with suction were similar for non-reinforced soils and reinforced soils up to a threshold in root concentration beyond which the rate became slightly smaller. The obtained relationships between root area ratio and strength were used in the infinite slope stability calculation of an instrumented slope based on field pore-water pressure and mini-rhizotron measurements. The analysis showed that in unsaturated condition, the stabilizing effect of suction was greater than that of roots, while in saturated condition, the stabilizing effect of root reinforcement was more important especially for shallower depth.