Root Reinforcement
Measurement and Modelling
- 1st Edition - March 1, 2026
- Authors: Anil Yildiz, Gerrit J. Meijer
- Language: English
- Paperback ISBN:9 7 8 - 0 - 4 4 3 - 3 3 5 0 2 - 0
- eBook ISBN:9 7 8 - 0 - 4 4 3 - 3 3 5 0 3 - 7
The contribution of vegetation to slope stability is a complex, multi-scale, and multi-agent mechanism, necessitating inter-disciplinary research. Due to varying backgrounds of… Read more
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The contribution of vegetation to slope stability is a complex, multi-scale, and multi-agent mechanism, necessitating inter-disciplinary research. Due to varying backgrounds of researchers working on this topic, standardization of methods and a systematic classification of models is lacking. Root Reinforcement: Measurement and Modeling intends to build confidence among interdisciplinary researchers working in geohazards on how to include vegetation in engineering design by providing more clarity on how to quantify reinforcement, by both focusing on how to collect data (measurements) and how to interpret data collected to make predictions for modified soil properties (modelling). Root Reinforcement: Measurement and Modeling covers mechanical and hydrological interactions between soil and plant roots. It explores and compares measurement techniques, and systematically dissects predictive models developed in the last fifty years of research. The methodical approach and inclusion of executable code makes it a suitable resource for both researchers and practitioners, especially those new to this field.
- Provides guidance on selecting experimental techniques based on advantages, disadvantages, and use cases allowing readers to gain a solid basis in selecting the most appropriate methods or tools for their application
- Summarizes almost 50 years’ worth of models under one roof, in systematic order benefitting the reader with an increased understanding of assumptions, simplifications, and generalizations behind existing models
- Includes code, algorithms, and software packages providing hands-on modelling experience using the complementary open-access software package, which can be used or adapted to readers' needs
Soil scientists who would like to broaden their research interests into a highly interdisciplinary field and who have a growing interest in nature-based solutions to climate-driven geohazards
Part I: Introduction
1. Introduction Relevance and a brief history of research on root reinforcement, structure of the book, access to online supplementary material, e.g. code snippets, Python packages
2. An overview of soil mechanics Important concepts in soil mechanics, i.e. stress, displacement, strength, and flow
3. Soil-root interaction Physical mechanisms of soil-root interaction at individual roots, root-soil bonding, root-soil composite will be explained. This key chapter will form how the next parts are organized
Part II: Measurement
4. Individual roots Tests and measurements conducted on individual roots or groups of roots. Root tensile tests, bending tests, biotic parameters
5. Root-soil bonding Experiments, under laboratory or field conditions, to determine the strength of the root-soil bonding. Slippage and breakage mechanisms
6. Root-soil composite Experiments, under laboratory or field conditions, to determine the strength of the root-soil composite, e.g. direct shear, triaxial, centrifuge testing, as well as tests and monitoring of hydrological regime of root-permeated soils
Part III: Modelling
7. Individual roots Biomechanics, variability, multi-tissue models, single root in direct shear, bending reinforcement
8. Root-soil bonding Root pull-out, transverse loading
9. Root-soil composite – hydrological models Permeability, infiltration, soil water retention, root water uptake, soil suction
10. Root-soil composite – analytical mechanical models Fibre bundle models, Root bundle models, Dundee root anaytical model
11. Root-soil composite – constitutive models Phase relationships, single constitutive models for rooted soil, composite models, coupling
12. Root system Root distributions with depth, root distributions with distance to plant stem
13. Slope stability Infinite slope, Bishop circles, limit state analysis, SOSlope, finite element analysis.
14. Catchment Large-scale landslide risk assessment, TRIGRS, SlideforMap
1. Introduction Relevance and a brief history of research on root reinforcement, structure of the book, access to online supplementary material, e.g. code snippets, Python packages
2. An overview of soil mechanics Important concepts in soil mechanics, i.e. stress, displacement, strength, and flow
3. Soil-root interaction Physical mechanisms of soil-root interaction at individual roots, root-soil bonding, root-soil composite will be explained. This key chapter will form how the next parts are organized
Part II: Measurement
4. Individual roots Tests and measurements conducted on individual roots or groups of roots. Root tensile tests, bending tests, biotic parameters
5. Root-soil bonding Experiments, under laboratory or field conditions, to determine the strength of the root-soil bonding. Slippage and breakage mechanisms
6. Root-soil composite Experiments, under laboratory or field conditions, to determine the strength of the root-soil composite, e.g. direct shear, triaxial, centrifuge testing, as well as tests and monitoring of hydrological regime of root-permeated soils
Part III: Modelling
7. Individual roots Biomechanics, variability, multi-tissue models, single root in direct shear, bending reinforcement
8. Root-soil bonding Root pull-out, transverse loading
9. Root-soil composite – hydrological models Permeability, infiltration, soil water retention, root water uptake, soil suction
10. Root-soil composite – analytical mechanical models Fibre bundle models, Root bundle models, Dundee root anaytical model
11. Root-soil composite – constitutive models Phase relationships, single constitutive models for rooted soil, composite models, coupling
12. Root system Root distributions with depth, root distributions with distance to plant stem
13. Slope stability Infinite slope, Bishop circles, limit state analysis, SOSlope, finite element analysis.
14. Catchment Large-scale landslide risk assessment, TRIGRS, SlideforMap
- Edition: 1
- Published: March 1, 2026
- Language: English
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Anil Yildiz
Anil Yildiz works as a lecturer at the chair of Methods of Model-based Development in Computational Engineering, RWTH Aachen University, Germany, and he is leading the research group Engineering Climate Change Response. He earned his BSc. and MSc. degrees in Civil Engineering at Bogazici University, and obtained his Dr. sc. in Civil Engineering from ETH Zurich in 2018. He has been awarded the Culmann Prize 2019 for an outstanding thesis on the quantification of biological effects on soil stability. His research focusses mainly on geohazards, covering a wide range of topics, such as shallow landslides, root reinforcement, soil-plant-atmosphere interactions, and methods, such as complex laboratory and field testing as well as computational and surrogate modelling.
Affiliations and expertise
Lecturer, Methods of Model-based Development, Computational Engineering, RWTH Aachen University, GermanyGM
Gerrit J. Meijer
Gerrit Meijer is a lecturer in geotechnical engineering at the University of Bath. He has a BSc., MSc. (both Delft University of Technology) and PhD (University of Dundee, 2016) degree in Civil Engineering. With over a decade of experience with field test, laboratory tests and modelling of root-reinforced soil, he aims streamline the integration of nature-based solutions into engineering design by developing innovative measurement techniques (e.g., corkscrew testing) and practical, physics-based models (e.g., DRAM, generic fibre bundle models).
Affiliations and expertise
Lecturer, Geotechnical Engineering, University of Bath, UK