Plant Root Reinforcement Against Local Failure Mechanism of Natural Slope

Abstract

The effectiveness of plant root reinforcement in protecting shallow landslide was analyzed using a method of slope stability analysis. The study has investigated the effective contribution of roots to the local safety factors as well as over-all safety factor. The roots of natural plants increased the local safety factor by providing additional shear strength locally to at failure plane. During propagation of failure, the strength of soil at certain location along the shear plane drastically reduced to a residual level and the failure was imminent locally, it was found that the roots significantly contributed additional strength locally and increased the safety factor at the place. The shear strengths of roots were determined with root diameters, number of roots and tensile strength of roots. The shear strengths of plants were incorporated as reinforcements into the slope stability analysis. The analysis calculated the local as well as over-all safety factor with such reinforcement of roots. Existing published data regarding the roots were used in the analyses. An example case of slope stability analysis was done with different root reinforcement situation on the slope. Effects of different cases considering the positions of root reinforcements on the safety factor and the shear strength were also examined.