Effect of the root biotechnical characteristics of Alnus subcordata, Paulownia fortunei and Populus deltoides on the soil mechanics

The effect of root reinforcement depends on the biotechnical characteristics of the root system including the tensile strength of individual roots, the root density and the distribution of the root system in the soil. This research was conducted in the Hyrcanian forest in Iran, where shallow landslides are frequent due to road construction. The effect of the root biotechnical characteristics of Alnus subcordata, Paulownia fortunei and Populus deltoides each one in 2-, 10- and 15-year-old plantations was assessed. The profile trenching method was used in this study to obtain the root area ratio of individual species by counting the number of roots and measuring the root diameter. For each species, single root specimens were sampled and tested for tensile tests in the laboratory using the standard Instron apparatus. The natural moisture content (two weeks after rainfall), Atterberg limits, shear strength of the soil were determined for plantations, stable and unstable sites. Results of this study indicated that plastic index and internal friction angle decreased with increasing root diameter rate. Moreover, internal friction angle and cohesion increased with increasing root area ratio and root diameter and density index. Tensile strength of roots decreased with increasing stand age. The highest and the lowest tensile strengths among species were observed for Paulownia fortunei and Populus deltoides, respectively. The findings of this research contribute to expanding the knowledge of root biotechnical properties of some tree species and to the choice of the most appropriate species for improving plastic index and shear strength in landslide prone areas.