Modeling of root-reinforced soil slope under rainfall condition

Abstract

This paper presents the results of geotechnical centrifuge and numerical modeling study of root-reinforced systems on soil slopes. The centrifuge models were designed to simulate a soil slope reinforced by vetiver grass root system commonly grows in Southeast Asian countries. Unreinforced and root-reinforced soil slope models were subjected to heavy rainfall using a rainfall simulator designed for a geotechnical centrifuge. Results of the study show that the root system causes a reduction of rainwater infiltration rate, delay in the response of groundwater table, and increasing in soil shear strength. The results were validated by comparing centrifuge modeling test results with numerical modeling analyses based on limit equilibrium and finite element methods. The transient seepage analysis results were employed in the slope stability analysis. The numerical analysis shows a good agreement in failure mechanisms with the observations from centrifuge modeling tests.