Pyrootmemo: An application to unify root reinforcement models

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4. Pyrootmemo: An application to unify root reinforcement models

Estimating vegetation effects on slope stability has been of academic and professional interest since late 1960s, motivated initially by understanding failures after clear cutting for timber harvesting and recently by designing nature-based solutions. A plethora of analytical, empirical, semi-empirical and numerical models can be found in the literature, using a wide variety of soil and root parameters, assumptions, coefficients, systems of units of measurement, and calculation methods. As a physics-based model using well-established constitutive laws or widely used numerical techniques is still largely lacking, many researchers and practitioners employ multiple methods from the literature and compare the results. We present herein an application to unify many root reinforcement models ranging from earlier models from the 1970s, based on force equilibrium, to latest extensions of fibre bundle models. pyrootmemo was developed entirely in Python, utilising the principles of object-oriented programming ensuring compatibility between different models. Modularity of the package enables users to adapt pyrootmemo to define material parameters and implement their models. Furthermore, automated metadata extraction yields reproducible model calculations ensuring transparency. Through providing an open-source and standardised application we aim to promote accessibility, clarity, accuracy and practical useability, thus facilitating future vegetation-based engineering.

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