Slope Protection Research Articles

Insight on characterization through porosity-to-lime index of a stabilized soil for the long-term

The strength of lime-cemented soils has received significant attention in previous studies. However, limited research has focused on studying soil mixtures for extended durations beyond 365 days, which is essential for understanding shear strength, microstructure, unconfined compressive, and matric suction. Consequently, there is a need to explore the long-term behavior and unsaturated properties of soil specimens cured for up to 500 days using appropriately hydrated lime, considering the semi-empirical porosity/lime index. By investigating various curing times ranging from 15 to 500 days, as well as employing different compaction energies (standard, intermediate, and modified) and lime content ranging from 3% to 9% by weight, this study aims to characterize the evolution of resistance and unsaturated properties of lime-cemented soils. The semi-empirical porosity/lime index is employed to guide the characterization and analysis of the mixtures' resistance properties. By developing equations to estimate the resistance of these mixtures, the study contributes to reducing lime consumption (and reducing CO2 emissions during its production) and optimizing curing time, leading to environmentally friendly geotechnical projects. Due to the utilization of the porosity/lime ratio, lime consumption can be minimized, and curing time can be fixed, resulting in a significant reduction in energy requirements, which is beneficial for the environment. The outcomes of this research have profound implications for the design and construction of sustainable structures such as dams, pavements, and slope protection systems, ensuring their long-term stability, resilience, and ecological balance.

Shear Strength Analysis and Slope Stability Study of Straight Root Herbaceous Root Soil Composite

The instability of bare slopes is a prevalent concern. The root system of herbaceous vegetation enhances the shear strength of shallow slope soil. This study investigated the mechanism of the root-soil system as well as the effects of different influencing factors on the shear strength of the soil and slope stability. In particular, indoor experiments were conducted on rootless undisturbed soil (RUS) and undisturbed soil with a root system (USRS) using a triaxial compression apparatus to analyze the slope stability of composite soil with a Tagetes erecta root system. Significance tests and correlation analysis of the factors affecting shear performance were conducted. The slope reinforcement effect by the plant root system was simulated under 24 working conditions using the MIDAS finite element method. The results revealed the influence of the root content, moisture content, and stress on the shear strength of USRS, as well as the contribution degree and influence of these variables on the slope stability. Both RUS and USRS exhibited strain hardening during shearing. A strong negative (positive) correlation was observed between the internal friction angle (φ) (cohesion (c)) of the USRS and the root content (moisture content). The maximum deviatoric stress during shear failure of the USRS was 1.29 times higher than that of the RUS. Moreover, the root content was positively correlated with the slope safety coefficient and the slope of the line under different working conditions, whereas the slope angle was negatively correlated with the slope safety coefficient. The reinforcement effect by the root system resulted in a 11.2% increase in the safety coefficient and the improved stability of slopes with an angle larger than 1.5%. The findings of this study provide new insights into shallow slope stability in practical slope protection projects.

Simulation of ash dump embankment stability

Ash and slag materials are removed from boiler rooms of CHP “Combined Heat and Power Plant” (Teploelektrotsentral’) by hydraulic transport and disposed in ash dumps. These are specially organized areas encircled by protective dams depending on the relief either along the entire perimeter or only in certain low-lying areas. The dams of hydraulic structures must provide stability to the whole structure against the following factors: shear; stability of slopes against sliding; filtration resistance of a dam body soils; reliable slope protection against possible failure due to atmospheric precipitation; as well as against wave action of water (within a settling pond); sufficient excess of dam crest over water level of a pond, etc. The study focuse on the design of ash and slag dump embankment (for storage of the ash and slag removed from the boiler rooms of Karaganda CHP by hydraulic transport). Ash dump design requires a broad range of problems to be solved. These include determination of location, design features and type of embankment, area of the basin and volume of the stored waste, strength of the embankment structures, etc. In order to assess the condition of the ash dump design, the stability of the facility embankment slopes for different combinations of loads, the conditions of possible watering of the dams, the presence of “geomembrane”, and pore pressure need to be analysed. A software program based on the finite element method allows simulation of ground (soil) conditions based on the strength and strain characteristics of the dam body filling soils and the base soils. Safety factors of the outer (downstream) slopes of hydraulic structures is determined taking into account the category and design of a structure, type of base (foundation), criticality of the design process stage, and other factors on the basis of conditions that ensure the prevention of the onset of limit states. The most critical and characteristic cross-sections across the perimeter of the ash dump embankment were selected for the computations, based on the analysis of the designed hydraulic structure base lithological composition. According to the computations performed, the outer slopes of the embankment at the paths of wells No. 373-19, No. 381-19, characteristic of almost the entire length of the embankment, are stable for different combinations of loads.

Rainfall Scouring Mechanism of the High-Speed Railway Subgrade Slope with Coarse-Grained Soil

The hydraulic erosion of the subgrade slope can lead to serious loss of filling materials and landslides, affecting stability. In particular, there is no quantitative consideration of the scouring calculation method for the design codes of High-Speed Railway Subgrade Slope (HRSS). This paper mainly focuses on the anti-erosion stability of HRSS with coarse-grained soil and analyzes the current research shortcomings. The scouring on the subgrade slope was analyzed by establishing an incipient flow velocity formula that optimized the derivation process and parameters. Compared with the two types of cases, the exactitude of the formula derivation is verified. Finally, combined with orthogonal grouping, a single-factor analysis was conducted on the slope gradient and soil shear strength. With the same particle size, the incipient flow velocity decreases with the increase of the slope gradient (29.7° – 45°). When the particle size is upwards of 0.1 mm, the slope gradient has a great impact on the incipient flow velocity. And as the slope gradient decreases, the acceleration of incipient flow velocity with the same particle size increases. The incipient flow velocity increases with the increase of C (Cohesion) or φ (internal friction angle). The value of φ influences more deeply in the particle size range of 0.1 – 20 mm, that is, to advance the resisting erosion capacity, the shear strength of the slope soil is encouraged to improve when designing slope protection measures.

Research and Application Progress of Vegetation Porous Concrete.

Vegetation porous concrete is a novel material that integrates concrete technology with plant growth, offering excellent engineering applicability and environmental friendliness. This material is mainly utilized in eco-engineering projects such as riverbank protection, architectural greening, and slope protection along roads. This paper systematically reviews the current research progress of vegetation porous concrete by collecting and analyzing the relevant literature from both domestic and international sources. It covers several aspects including the material components of vegetation porous concrete, such as aggregates, cementitious materials, chemical admixtures, and plant species, as well as aspects like mix design, workability, porosity, pH value, mechanical strength, and vegetative performance. Furthermore, the application of vegetation porous concrete in riverbank protection, slope protection along highways, and urban architecture is discussed, along with a prospective outlook on future research directions for vegetation porous concrete.

Prediction of maximum scour depth in river bends by the Stacking model

Abstract The accurate prediction of maximum erosion depth in riverbeds is crucial for early protection of bank slopes. In this study, K-means clustering analysis was used for outlier identification and feature selection, resulting in Plan 1 with six influential features. Plan 2 included features selected by existing methods. Regression models were built using Support Vector Regression, Random Forest Regression (RF Regression), and eXtreme Gradient Boosting on sample data from Plan 1 and Plan 2. To enhance accuracy, a Stacking method with a feed-forward neural network was introduced as the meta-learner. Model performance was evaluated using root mean squared error, mean absolute error, mean absolute percentage error, and R2 coefficients. The results demonstrate that the performance of the three models in Plan 1 outperformed that of Plan 2, with improvements in R2 values of 0.0025, 0.0423, and 0.0205, respectively. Among the three regression models in Plan 1, RF Regression performs the best with an R2 value of 0.9149 but still lower than the 0.9389 achieved by the Stacking fusion model. Compared to the existing formulas, the Stacking model exhibits superior predictive performance. This study verifies the effectiveness of combining clustering analysis, feature selection, and the Stacking method in predicting maximum scour depth in bends, providing a novel approach for bank protection design.

Potensi Dan Cabaran Bahan Biokomposit sebagai Struktur Kejuruteraan dalam Perlindungan Cerun Ekologi: Satu Tinjauan

Ecological slope protection technology has gained popularity as a sustainable and eco-friendly approach for slope restoration and conservation. The integration of ecological considerations into slope protection techniques has resulted in more sustainable and environmentally friendly solutions. In order to advance the development of ecological self-cycling, this study conducts a comprehensive review of the latest advancements in ecological slope protection technology materials. A systematic literature search was conducted using four databases (Web of Science, Scopus, Science Direct, and Google Scholar) and based on the keywords: ecological slope protection; slope protection; bio-composite material; bio-material; eco-material; eco-friendly building material; mycelium based material; natural fiber composite and biochar. This article provides a detailed discussion of the fundamental types of ecological slope conservation and the properties of materials used in ecological slope protection technology. The usage of environmentally friendly innovative materials has overtaken traditional engineered structures as the primary mode of ecological slope protection innovation. In particular, this study focuses on the structural basis of ecological slope protection, conducting a comparative analysis of the properties of existing bio-composites and evaluating whether they could replace the base structure of ecological slope protection. The findings of this study will contribute to the development of more sustainable and effective ecological slope protection techniques, thereby promoting ecological conservation and restoration.

The Impact of Vegetation Roots on Shallow Stability of Expansive Soil Slope under Rainfall Conditions

The impact of reinforcing vegetation roots on the stability of expansive soil slopes with moisture absorption and expansion was investigated. Then, poinsettia is selected as the slope protection plant, and ABAQUS software (version 2022) with secondary development is used to simulate the moisture absorption and expansion of the expansive soil slope. After that, the strength reduction method is employed to study the effects on the displacement and plastic zone, and on the shallow layer of the expansive soil slope at different rainfall conditions. The following points are revealed: (1) The roots of the poinsettia can reduce the displacement of the slope. But, when the rainfall intensity exceeds the soil permeability coefficient, the soil reinforcement effect decreases. (2) The poinsettia root system can alleviate the concentration of plastic strain, disperse the plastic zone, and increase slope stability along the distribution of the roots. (3) The poinsettia roots can improve the shallow stability of the slope. But when the rainfall intensity exceeds the surface permeability coefficient, the magnitude of the reinforcement decreases. The results demonstrate that the poinsettia roots can enhance shallow slope stability. However, with increasing rainfall intensity, the ability of the poinsettia roots to enhance shallow slope stability gradually weakens.

Flow Patterns around a Marginal Bank under the Action of Unsteady Flow

Unsteady flow represents one of the most prevalent and intricate forms of fluid motion in nature. The erosion and damage caused by water flow to slope protection blocks are issues of significant concern. Understanding the hydrodynamic structures near slopes is crucial for enhancing the protection of these blocks. This study primarily focuses on the tidal flats along the main waterways in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River. The analysis includes the distribution of water surfaces, velocity distribution, average flow velocity, and their variations near these beaches. The results indicate that the water flow near the beaches can be divided into four main regions: the rising water area, the falling water area, the backflow area, and the maximum flow velocity area. The slope of the beach has a noticeable impact on the water’s surface profile. Within a certain range, the area of flow velocities above 0.35 m/s is linearly inversely correlated with the beach angle. In terms of longitudinal water surface profiles, the shallowest water level occurs at the widest part of the beach, and the location of maximum flow velocity is about one-fourth of the beach length from the head of the beach. Steep changes in the water surface are more likely to occur at the junction of steep slopes and the riverbed. Near the backflow area, the flow velocity is approximately zero, and in longitudinal sections other than the backflow area, the maximum flow velocity is 1.3–1.8 times the minimum flow velocity.

Strength of Laterite Mixed with GeoPolySoilS for Slope Cover and Protection

Slope stabilization or slope protection is the actions constructed on the slope or nearby areas to keep the slope safe from moving water, erosion, or the negative impacts of sudden outflow. There are a few slope stabilization methods such as geometric method, hydrological method and chemical and mechanical methodthatcan be used to enhance the engineering properties of laterite soil. Among these methods, the chemical method was proven to be a method that is efficient to enhance the geotechnical properties of laterite soil. In this study, GeoPolySoilS was used to mixed with laterite soil to increase the strength of the soil. This study is carried out toinvestigate the strength of the laterite mixed with GeoPolySoilS for slope cover and protection. For the physical and mechanical properties test, laboratory experiments were conducted on natural laterite soil to determine the natural moisture content, particle size distribution, liquid limit, plastic limit, maximum dry density, optimum moisture content and unconfined compressivestrength of the soil. The amount of GeoPolySoilS applied to the laterite soil sample are 0%, 5%, 8%, 10%, 12%, 15%, 18% and 20%.The results of laboratory tests show that by adding an appropriate amount of GeoPolySoilS to the soil, the stability of the slope surface increases, thus able to avoid landslides.

Experimental Research on Erosion Characteristics of Ecological Slopes under the Scouring of Non-Directional Inflow

Considering environmental sustainability, ecological embankments are often adopted in rivers, which benefit both the erosion resistance and the ecological balance of the bank. In this paper, the effectiveness of different types of dominant grass species in ecological slope protection and their impact mechanisms, as well as the impact of non-directional inflow on erosion characteristics, were investigated. Based on the principle of similarity theory in hydraulic modeling and the characteristics of flood erosion in riverbanks, a test model system for hydraulic ecological simulation was designed, including a vegetation bank slope and channels. Three types of dominant grass species were selected, and 12 series of erosion experiments were conducted in the grassed slope of the test model. Three types of root–soil composites and a reference plain soil were involved in the tests, and soil mechanical indicators such as shear strength were collected. Experimental results show that root–soil composite is a special elastic–plastic material, which provides additional cohesive force to the soil due to its root consolidation and reinforcement effects, Δc. The shear strength index reflecting soil cohesion was increased by 15% to 20%. The primary factor affecting slope erosion is the flushing velocity, and both the average erosion depth and the unit soil erosion loss present an exponential function with respect to this factor, while presenting a linear function with the angle of incoming flow. Compared with the plain soil slope, the ecological slope could decrease erosion significantly. The sand loss of the ecological slope is only 50~60% that of the plain soil slope as the flushing velocity is 3–4 m s−1. In vertical flushing, the sand loss in the plain soil slope is 1.73–2.43 times that of the ecological slope. This research might provide technical support for the anti-scourability design of the ecological embankment.

The Shear Strength of Root–Soil Composites in Different Growth Periods and Their Effects on Slope Stability

Vegetation slope protection plays an important role in improving the slope stability and protecting the environment. In this study, the mechanical properties of root–soil composites in different growth periods and their effects on slope stability were investigated. First, the shear strength of undisturbed root–soil composites associated with Cynodon dactylon (C.d), Magnolia multiflora (M.m) and grass and shrub mixture (G.s) were measured by large direct shear tests. Then, the effects of plant reinforcement in different growth periods on slope stability were analyzed using ABAQUS. The results show that the shear strength of the root–soil composites were significantly higher than that of the unreinforced soil. The root–soil composites met the Mohr–Coulomb criterion. The shear strength of the three root–soil composites increased first and then decreased during the vegetation growth period. The calculation results show that the factor of safety (FS) of the bare slope was 1.482. The FS values of the C.d, M.m, and G.s slopes were 1.601, 1.658 and 1.715, which increased by 8%, 11.9% and 15.7% compared to the bare soil slopes. Therefore, vegetation could significantly improve slope stability, especially the grass–shrub mixture model. This could provide a rational basis for designing and constructing plant slope protection.

Construction method for ecological protection of stone side slopes using composite vegetation concrete

Traditional ecological restoration technology has many challenges in dealing with the greening of steep rock slopes, especially in the case of serious soil erosion. In order to overcome these problems, this study aims to organically combine the traditional protection and reinforcement technology with the new vegetation restoration technology, and put forward a new ecological protection technology of composite vegetation concrete to realize the comprehensive protection and ecological restoration of rocky slopes. In this paper, by analyzing the mechanism and existing problems of ecological protection of rocky slopes, the design requirements of composite vegetation concrete are studied in detail, and the related construction technology is expounded. In the experiment, the vegetation coverage and incidence were systematically analyzed, and the results showed that some samples showed high vegetation coverage and low incidence. Comprehensive consideration shows that the average vegetation coverage rate is 93.7%, and the average incidence rate is only 5.21%, which all meet the corresponding standards. The composite vegetation concrete technology has a wide application prospect in stone slope protection, which significantly improves the slope vegetation coverage and compressive strength, and effectively promotes the slope greening and ecological sustainable development. Through this study, we aim to convey to readers that the comprehensive method of combining traditional and innovative technologies can achieve encouraging results in solving the problem of ecological restoration of steep rock slopes, and provide useful reference for engineering practice in similar environments.

Potentilla sericea stress-responsive spermine synthase PsSPMS enhances cadmium tolerance in Arabidopsis thaliana

Potentilla sericea is resistant and tolerates rough management. It is an excellent garden groundcover for ecological restoration and soil consolidation for slope protection. Polyamines have functions such as promoting tissue growth and physiological resistance, while spermine synthase catalyzes the production of spermine. The PsSPMS gene from Potentilla sericea was cloned and transformed into Arabidopsis thaliana to study the response of transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana to cadmium stress. The results showed that the contents of spermidine, spermine as well as glutathione were higher in PsSPMS overexpressing Arabidopsis thaliana than the control, while the contents of putrescine were less than the control. Net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, chlorophyll content, water use efficiency, electron transfer rate, PSII-related parameters, proline content, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione reductase activities were higher in PsSPMS overexpressing Arabidopsis thaliana than the control, while malondialdehyde, superoxide anion, and hydrogen peroxide contents were lower than the control. Correlation analysis showed significant differences between the indicators (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01). Expression of AtSPMS, AtSPD3, AtGSH2 and AtGR in transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana was higher than that of the control. Therefore, this study provides a genetic reference for the cultivation of cadmium-tolerant plants through genetic engineering and lays the foundation for further research on cadmium-tolerant Potentilla sericea.

LiDAR Data and HRSI to Evaluate the Mitigating Effect of Forests into Rockfall Risk Analysis Using SOM: Mt San Liberatore Case Study

The aim of our work is to develop a methodology to identify the areas most prone to natural rockfall retention through the integrated use of remote sensing data. The area chosen as a case study is located in Campania (Italy) nearby Mount San Liberatore. In this area, which is itself geomorphologically predisposed to landslide risk, there are several rockfall risk hotspots, so defined because of the high exposed value constituted by an articulated infrastructure network located along the northwest slope of the mountain. The area is largely covered by dense vegetation, of which holm oak is the most representative type, characterized by a taproot apparatus that, giving it strength and stability, makes it an ideal tree for slope protection. Based on high-resolution multispectral satellite images, vegetation indices (VIs) were calculated to estimate health status, approximate age, average height, robustness, and vigor. Morphometric parameters suitable for describing slope dynamics were also calculated, derived from LiDAR data. The classification of areas with similar characteristics was carried out using Self-Organizing Maps. The results made it possible to identify all those areas where there is a greater contribution of protective forests in the mitigation of rockfall risk and, consequently, to identify areas to carry out a combined strengthening of protective actions.

Wheat straw fibre based semi-IPN composite: Preparation and evaluation as a matrix for water and fertilizer release and in slope reinforcement

To improve the utilization rate of fertilizer and reduce environmental pollution, the effective management of water and fertilizer is extremely significant for the development of modern agriculture. Herein, using agricultural wastes (wheat straw fibre, WS) and phosphoric acid-based geopolymers (PGs) as eco-friendly materials, a novel wheat straw fibre composited polymer/PGs (WS-Po/PGs), was prepared by in-situ graft polymerization strategy, and a kind of nutrient-water carrier with semi-IPN was formed. Its structure and morphology were revealed by XRD, FT-IR, BET and SEM. Its water-retaining and controlled release behavior, and the nutrient release model were studied, while the effects on plant growth and loess slope of WS-Po/PGs were further investigated. The results illustrated that the obtained nutrient-water carrier had excellent water absorption (270.27 g/g) and salt tolerance (131.58 g/g) as straw fibres were mixed into polymer networks and formed semi-interpenetrating structures (semi-IPN). Comparing with controls, the WS-Po/PGs significantly improved the water retention capacity and N release longevity (30 d, 66.2%). Its nutrient release fitted the Fickian diffusion model (n < 0.5). Furthermore, the WS-Po/PGs could remarkably enhance the erosion resistance and stability of the loess slope, regulate the pH of the soil, and promote the germination rate of slope vegetation. In summary, by using agricultural wastes straw and loess as resources, the obtained WS-Po/PGs presented excellent slow-release behavior, salt tolerance and slope reinforcement function, and this kind of semi-IPN nutrient-water carrier could provide an insight for agriculture and slope protection.

Analysis of Highway Subgrade Slope Protection and Support Technologies

As an important transportation hub in China the traffic volume and driving speed are important aspects of expressways. Therefore the protection requirements for roadbed side slopes are higher and it is necessary to resist rainwater erosion and other damages by protecting the side slopes. Therefore it is necessary to adopt effective technical means of subgrade protection and support. This paper mainly summarizes the characteristics of highway subgrade slope protection construction and slope protection and support technologies.

Active permanent greening - a new slope greening technology based on mineral solubilizing microorganisms.

With social and economic development and the associated large-scale exploitation of natural resources, the number of slopes has significantly increased. As slope instability can lead to serious geological disasters, the ecological protection and reconstruction of slopes has become a hot topic of common global concern. In order to achieve scientific slope management and overcome the difficulty of maintaining slope greening in the long term, this study explored eight strategies (A, B, C, AB, AC, BC, ABC, CK), involving different patented mineral solubilizing microorganisms (MSMs), and analyzed the field application of active permanent greening (APG) based on MSMs. The results revealed that MSMs significantly increased the content of effective metal ions and available nutrients in soil and enhanced soil enzyme activity. Among all strategies, strategy A showed significant superiority, with soil effective calcium, magnesium, potassium, nitrogen, phosphorus and organic matter contents increasing by 51.62%, 55.41%, 30.42%, 39.77%, 181.69% and 76.92%, respectively, while urease, sucrase and peroxidase activities increased by 89.59%, 74.68% and 85.30%. MSMs strongly promoted the growth of Amorpha. Strategy A showed the best performance, with plant seedling height, ground diameter, leaf area, root length, and root volume increasing by 95.75%, 47.78%, 124.14%, 108.83%, and 139. 86%, respectively. According to a comprehensive evaluation using the entropy-analysis hierarchy process, strategy A has great potential for application. The field test results verified that APG has significantly better greening performance than the traditional greening method, with high vegetation cover and stable soil layer. The results of this study provide a reliable practical basis and technical reference for the development, promotion, and application of APG.

Crack Resistance and Strength Properties of Red Clay Modified with Lignocellulose and Guar Gum

Desiccation cracking is a common problem of red clay under wet and dry conditions. The presence of cracks could reduce soil strength properties, which is the major reason for shallow failure of red clay slopes. This study aims to propose some additives to improve the crack resistance as well as the strength of red clay. To this end, three natural fibers and three natural gels were primarily selected to modify red clay. Desiccation crack tests were conducted to identify the best fiber and gel in terms of crack resistance. Then, direct shear tests and uniaxial tensile tests were performed on the soil specimens modified by the best fiber and gel to determine the optimal dosages regarding strength improvements. The results demonstrated that natural gels reduced the crack resistance of red clay, while natural fibers could enhance the crack resistance. Lignocellulose was the best additive in improving the crack resistance of red clay, and the modified effect was positively correlated with the fiber dosage. Adding 1.5% lignocellulose into red clay could reduce the crack rate from 2.19% to 0.30%, with a reduction of 0.86 times. The tensile strength, shear strength and its parameters of lignocellulose-modified red clay showed a trend of increasing first and then decreasing with increasing lignocellulose dosage. At the optimal lignocellulose dosage of 0.75%, the shear strength and tensile strength were increased by 44.63% and 18.21%, respectively. The strength of red clay modified by both lignocellulose and guar gum was positively correlated with the dosage of guar gum, and the desirable dosage of guar gum was 1.0%. In engineering practice, the wet red clay mixed with 0.75% lignocellulose and grass seeds can be employed as planting soil and is sprayed uniformly onto the slope surface after excavation using a spraying planting machine. To further improve the strength of the planting soil, 1.0% guar gum solution can be sprayed on the soil surface. The findings could provide useful guidance for the protection of red clay slopes.

Effects of freeze-thaw cycling on the engineering properties of vegetation concrete

Vegetation concrete has been widely applied for the ecological restoration of bare steep slopes in short-term frozen and non-frozen soil regions in China. However, field experiments conducted in seasonally frozen soil regions have revealed decreases in the bulk density, nutrient content and vegetation coverage. This study aimed to clarify the evolution process and mechanism of the engineering properties of vegetation concrete under atmospheric freeze-thaw (F-T) test conditions. The physical, mechanical, and nutrient properties of vegetation concrete were investigated using six F-T cycles (0, 1, 2, 5, 10 and 20) and two initial soil water contents (18 and 22%). The results revealed decreases in the acoustic wave velocity and cohesive forces and an increase in the permeability coefficient of the vegetation concrete owing to F-T action. X-ray diffraction tests indicated that the decreased cohesive force was closely related to the overall decrease in the content of gelling hydration products in the vegetation concrete. Additionally, the contents of NH4+–N, PO43–P and K+ in the vegetation concrete increased, whereas that of NO3−–N decreased. The loss rates of these soluble nutrients increased, indicating that the nutrient retention capacity of the vegetation concrete had decreased. Specifically, the decreased nutrient retention capacity was mainly related to the disintegration and fragmentation of larger aggregates due to F-T action. This study provides theoretical support for future research on improving the anti-freezing capability of ecological slope protection substrates in seasonally frozen soil regions.