Restricted Effect of Two Plant Root Systems on the Crack Expansion of China Yunnan Laterite under Dry-wet Cycle

Abstract

In order to research the restricted effect of hedera nepalensis root systems and heteropogon contortus root systems on the crack expansion of Yunnan laterite under dry-wet cycle, this paper prepares Yunnan laterite with certain moisture content, and makes the compacted samples of pure laterite and composite soil mixed with root systems by adopting hedera nepalensis root systems and heteropogon contortus root systems respectively, and then simulates the dry-wet cycle of laterite in engineering (i.e., rainfalls and evaporations), measures the crack width of samples experiencing different cycles, and makes statistical analysis on the average maximum crack width of samples in all groups by adopting the method of indoor spraying and natural drying. The result indicates that, 10% and 20% mixed hedera nepalensis root systems can exert obvious restrictions on the crack expansion of Yunnan laterite after dry-wet cycle, while 30% mixed hedera nepalensis root systems and 10% mixed heteropogon contortus root systems can also restrict the crack expansion of Yunnan laterite, but the restricted effect is weaker. As for 20% and 30% mixed heteropogon contortus root systems, composite soil samples will disintegrate after the 2nd dry-wet cycle.