Contribution of the vegetation for slope stability. Part II - A case study

Abstract

The stabilising effects of the vegetation roots developed on an old railway embankment slope is studied. To do this it has been necessary to do some experimental and analytical work. On one hand, the proper geometric and mechanical characterisation of the roots was done and the strength of the soil-roots system was evaluated by carrying out in situ tests with a large direct shear box. One the other hand, the contribution of the root's strength for slope stability was incorporated in a computer program, using a limit equilibrium methodology. Toe program uses the data obtained from experimental work and allows the realisation of deterministic and probabilistic analysis. The developed analytical model is applied to the case study considered.