Abstract
The behavior of root-soil system has raised more and more attention in both ecological and geotechnical fields. In this study, a two-dimensional discrete element method is employed using PFC2D to simulate the root-reinforced soil. The root system is mimicked by chains of bonded discs, while the soil is modeled by granular particles. The tensile strength of the root is modeled by interdiscs’ bonding strength. Three laboratory tests were studied to calibrate the micromechanical parameters of DEM. Finally, direct shear tests on rooted soil are simulated to investigate the influence of different root characteristics on the root reinforcement effect.
Highlights
In recent years, the behavior of the root-soil system has raised more and more attention in both ecological [1] and geotechnical fields [2,3,4]
Tsimu and Ttheor are the tensile strength of numerical simulation and theory, respectively. e first group illustrated that the parallel bond strength is proportional to the tensile strength of the simulated roots. e second group
Before studying the rooted soils, simulations of direct shear test on soil samples without roots are needed to verify the applicability of the discrete element model, and the simulated results would be valuable for comparison of shear resistance between nonrooted and rooted soils
Summary
The behavior of the root-soil system has raised more and more attention in both ecological [1] and geotechnical fields [2,3,4]. E existing studies demonstrate that the performance of the root-soil system [17] depends on both ground traits (e.g., soil properties, matric suction, and confined pressure) and root traits which can be divided into geometrical characteristics (e.g., branching pattern, bundle type, diameter, length, and orientation) and mechanical properties (e.g., tensile strength and Young’s modulus) [18]. These experimental methods are difficult to generate replicates and control multiple factors. Tensile strength of the root is modeled by interdiscs’ bonding strength. e shear strength increment obtained from the direct shear test would be investigated. e primary objective of this research is to define different parameters related to soil, roots, and root-soil interactions correctly in the discrete element model and evaluate the root reinforcement effect on soil through simulation of simple laboratory tests
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