Numerical Analysis of an Explicit Smoothed Particle Finite Element Method on Shallow Vegetated Slope Stability with Different Root Architectures

Xichun Jia, Wei Zhang, Xinghan Wang, Yuhao Jin () and Peitong Cong ()
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Xichun Jia: College of Water Conservancy and Civil Engineering, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
Wei Zhang: College of Water Conservancy and Civil Engineering, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
Xinghan Wang: Water Resources Remote Sensing Department, Pearl River Water Resources Research Institute, Guangzhou 510610, China
Yuhao Jin: College of Water Conservancy and Civil Engineering, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
Peitong Cong: College of Water Conservancy and Civil Engineering, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 18, 1-24

Abstract: Planting vegetation is an environmentally friendly method for reducing landslides. Current vegetated slope analysis fails to consider the influence of different root architectures, and the accuracy and effectiveness of the numerical simulations need to be improved. In this study, an explicit smoothed particle finite element method (eSPFEM) was used to evaluate slope stability under the influence of vegetation roots. The Mohr–Coulomb constitutive model was extended by incorporating apparent root cohesion into the shear strength of the soil. The slope factors of safety (FOS) of four root architectures (uniform, triangular, parabolic, and exponential) for various planting distances, root depths, slope angles, and planting locations were calculated using the shear strength reduction technique with a kinetic energy-based criterion. The results indicated that the higher the planting density, the stronger the reinforcement effect of the roots on the slope. With increasing root depth, the FOS value first decreased and then increased. The FOS value decreased with an increase in slope angle. Planting on the entire ground surface had the best improvement effect on the slope stability, followed by planting vegetation with a uniform root architecture in the upper slope region or planting vegetation with triangular or exponential root architecture on the slope’s toe. Our findings are expected to deepen our understanding of the contributions of different root architectures to vegetated slope protection and guide the selection of vegetation species and planting locations.

Keywords: explicit smooth particle finite element method; vegetated slope; root architectures; shear strength reduction technique; factor of safety (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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