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A simple approach for estimating contribution of vetiver roots in shear strength of a soil–root system

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Abstract

Bio-engineering technology, using vegetation, is an innovative and low-cost measure to address slope failure-related problems. To quantify the contribution of vegetation roots for increasing the strength of soil, several laboratory and field investigations have been conducted in this study. At first, the morphological characteristics of vetiver (Chrysopogon zizanioides) were studied. It was found that vetiver root can grow up to 1 m in three months in sandy soil. The average tensile strength of full-grown vetiver root was 27 MPa, and with the increase in root diameter, root tensile strength decreases. A correlation was developed between the tensile strength and diameter of the root, which was compared with previous studies. Laboratory tests were conducted on root mixed soil and found that the shear strength of rooted soil increases with the increase in root length and decrease in soil water content. Also, an attempt has been made to estimate the improved shear strength of rooted soil by developing a correlation between the additional shear strength of rooted soil and the tensile strength of roots per unit area of soils. To evaluate the shear strength of vetiver-rooted soil, in situ tests were conducted in naturally grown vetiver land for both rooted soil and bare soil. An approximately linear relationship was observed between the additional shear strength of rooted soil and the mobilized tensile strength of roots. Finally, a mathematical model was developed based on the experimental outcomes. This simple model can be used to estimate the shear strength parameters of rooted soil.

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The authors confirm that all relevant data supporting the findings of this study are included in the article.

Code availability

Since the study is based on mainly laboratory experiment, no custom or new code was used in this paper.

Abbreviations

A :

Cross-sectional area of the soil shear plane

A R :

Total cross-sectional area of the roots crossing the shear plane

ASTM:

American Society for Testing and Materials

D :

Mean root diameter

F max :

Maximum force at the failure of the root

T R :

Tensile strength developed in roots

T ult :

Ultimate tensile strength of root

γ :

Shear strain

τ :

Shear stress

θ :

Angle of shear distortion in the shear zone

\(\sigma_{{{\text{tR}}}}\) :

Mobilized tensile stress of root fibers per unit area of soil

φ :

Friction angle

∆τ :

Increase in shear strength

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Acknowledgements

The Directorate of Advisory, Extension & Research Services (DAERS), Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Dhaka, financially supported this work. Special thanks goes to Ms. Samira Tasnim Progga, Postgraduate Student, CE, BUET, for her help during manuscript writing.

Funding

The research was supported by the Academic Research Grant of the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil Engineering, University of Texas at Arlington, 701 S. Nedderman Dr, Arlington, TX, 76019, USA

    Faria Fahim Badhon & Md. Azijul Islam

  2. Department of Civil Engineering, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Dhaka, 1000, Bangladesh

    Mohammad Shariful Islam

  3. Rangamati O&M Division, Bangladesh Water Development Board, Kaptai, Bangladesh

    Md. Zia Uddin Arif

Authors
  1. Faria Fahim Badhon
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  2. Mohammad Shariful Islam
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Contributions

Badhon FF and Islam MS conceived and presented the idea. Badhon FF contributed to sample preparation and carried out the experiments with the cooperation of Arif MZU. Islam MS supervised the project and critically reviewed all the steps. Badhon FF and Islam MA aided in analysis and interpreting the results. All authors provided critical feedback and helped shape the research, analysis and manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Md. Azijul Islam.

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The authors certify that they have no affiliations with or involvement in any organization or entity with any financial or non-financial interest in the subject matter or materials discussed in this manuscript.

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Badhon, F.F., Islam, M.S., Islam, M.A. et al. A simple approach for estimating contribution of vetiver roots in shear strength of a soil–root system. Innov. Infrastruct. Solut. 6, 96 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41062-021-00469-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41062-021-00469-1

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