Influence of soil-roots interaction on the seismic performance of natural slopes

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Vegetation is recognized for its crucial role in enhancing the stability of the upper soil layers on natural slopes. As a result, numerous studies have been conducted in recent decades to gain a deeper understanding of the complex soil-root interaction, as well as the mechanical contribution to the stability of shallow soil layers. Most research has focused on static stability, with relatively few addressing seismic aspects. This paper presents a set of original closed-form solutions based on the infinite slope model that account for the stabilizing effects of roots on both the pseudo-static safety factor and the horizontal component of the slope yield acceleration coefficient. Specifically, by means of a simplified Newmark-type analysis, the effect of vegetation on the seismic performance of the slope is investigated within a performance-based framework, focusing on the reduction of the seismic-induced permanent displacements due to the beneficial effects of soil-root interaction. Several charts are derived that serve as practical design tools for selecting the appropriate increase in slope seismic resistance attributed to soil-root interaction to meet specific design values of the pseudo-static safety factors or earthquake-induced permanent displacements.

3rd International Workshop on Soil-Vegetation-Atmosphere Interaction (RootS2025)

2c. Numerical modelling of the behaviour of rooted soils and boundary value problems under static and dynamic loading conditions