Analysis of the deformation characteristics of root-soil composite body under pull-horizontal load action

Abstract

The ecological slope protection technology mainly improves the soil shear strength and enhances the stability of the shallow layer of the slope through the root system of plants. Previous studies on plant root slope protection were mostly focused on the strength characteristics of the root-soil composite body. Based on the numerical simulation method, the deformation law of the root-soil composite body under the gradual pulling-horizontal coupled load action is studied. Based on the characteristic displacement of the roots and soil, the failure mode of the root-soil composite body under the pulling-horizontal coupled load action is analyzed, and the evolution law of the displacement of the adjacent soil under the load is clarified. By comparing the deformation characteristics of the root-soil composite body under the pulling and pulling-horizontal coupled load actions, the influence of the horizontal load on the deformation of the root-soil composite body is analyzed, and the plant root retention ability under different load conditions is determined. The result show that: under the gradual pulling condition of the root-soil composite body, the root system and soil can still maintain a certain degree of connection at low load; but when the load exceeds the critical value, the interaction between the root system and soil weakens, and ultimately leads to the failure of the root-soil composite body. The existence of roots not only changes the displacement pattern of soil, but also has an important influence on the mechanical response of soil, especially at low load, where the support of roots is more obvious.

Keywords

plant roots / soil mass / metamorphosis / ecological slope protection / stability