Characterization of Vetiver Root Cohesion for Improvement in Stability of Tropical Hill Slopes
Publication: Geo-Congress 2024
ABSTRACT
In this paper, bioengineering techniques like planting vegetation are presented to address issues related to soil erosion and rainfall-induced hill slope failures. Consolidated drained (CD) direct shear strength tests were performed on soil-root samples with different geometry and root area ratios (RAR) of vetiver roots. Results showed many-fold increases in peak shear strength of the root-soil matrix when compared with control soil samples. The friction angle changed minimally, while the apparent cohesion increased significantly with increasing root density. In addition, two simple mathematical models were developed to predict the increase in shear strength from rooted samples with respect to root area ratio as well as mobilized tensile strength per unit area of soil. In general, the shear strength of rooted soil increased with increasing RAR and mobilized tensile strength of roots. Current studies have endorsed the potential of vetiver grass in stabilizing tropical hill slopes.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Geo-Congress 2024
Pages: 10 - 18
History
Published online: Feb 22, 2024
ASCE Technical Topics:
- Consolidated soils
- Ecosystems
- Environmental engineering
- Geomechanics
- Geotechnical engineering
- Material mechanics
- Material properties
- Materials engineering
- Shear strength
- Slope stability
- Slopes
- Soil dynamics
- Soil mechanics
- Soil properties
- Soil stabilization
- Soil strength
- Soils (by type)
- Strength of materials
- Tensile strength
- Tropical soils
- Vegetation
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