Timber sheet pile-vegetation model for stream bank retaining structure

Abstract

Timber sheet piles are widely used to protect canal and stream banks. Quite often, riparian vegetation also grows along these retaining structures. Roots of riparian vegetation mechanically reinforce the soil with their root systems. A timber sheetpile- vegetation model is developed taking into account the mechanical reinforcement of the vegetation roots. The model uses easy to obtain physical parameters, which makes it suitable to have a preliminary estimate of how the forces on the bio engineered structure would evolve.