Use of vegetation for slope protection: Root mechanical properties of some tropical plants

It is well documented that a bioengineering approach has recently regained a global recognition in preventing and controlling surface run-off, erosion and landslides. However, there is a lack of documentation on the root mechanical properties available especially in Malaysia. In this study, both pul...

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Main Author: Ali, F.
Format: Article
Published: Academic Journals 2010
Subjects:
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author Ali, F.
author_facet Ali, F.
author_sort Ali, F.
collection UM
description It is well documented that a bioengineering approach has recently regained a global recognition in preventing and controlling surface run-off, erosion and landslides. However, there is a lack of documentation on the root mechanical properties available especially in Malaysia. In this study, both pull-out and tensile strength of some tropical plants namely Leucaena leucocephala, Acacia mangium and Melastoma malabathricum is investigated on different stem sizes. Plots of pull-out capacity against displacement in L. leucocephala exhibit the presence of two peak values. Closer examination concludes that the first peak indicates the failure of the lateral roots and the second peaks is achieved when the tap roots failed. As for the tensile strength tests, results showed that the tensile strength decreases with increasing root diameter. The results also indicate that there is no correlation observed between the tensile strength, root length and root moisture content. Amongst the species, the highest root tensile strength was observed in L. leucocephala, followed by A. mangium and M. malabathricum. Thus, the study suggests that L. leucocephala is the best choice for slope stabilization work as it exhibits outstanding root mechanical properties.
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spelling um.eprints-147142019-03-20T08:29:33Z http://eprints.um.edu.my/14714/ Use of vegetation for slope protection: Root mechanical properties of some tropical plants Ali, F. Q Science (General) S Agriculture (General) It is well documented that a bioengineering approach has recently regained a global recognition in preventing and controlling surface run-off, erosion and landslides. However, there is a lack of documentation on the root mechanical properties available especially in Malaysia. In this study, both pull-out and tensile strength of some tropical plants namely Leucaena leucocephala, Acacia mangium and Melastoma malabathricum is investigated on different stem sizes. Plots of pull-out capacity against displacement in L. leucocephala exhibit the presence of two peak values. Closer examination concludes that the first peak indicates the failure of the lateral roots and the second peaks is achieved when the tap roots failed. As for the tensile strength tests, results showed that the tensile strength decreases with increasing root diameter. The results also indicate that there is no correlation observed between the tensile strength, root length and root moisture content. Amongst the species, the highest root tensile strength was observed in L. leucocephala, followed by A. mangium and M. malabathricum. Thus, the study suggests that L. leucocephala is the best choice for slope stabilization work as it exhibits outstanding root mechanical properties. Academic Journals 2010 Article PeerReviewed Ali, F. (2010) Use of vegetation for slope protection: Root mechanical properties of some tropical plants. International Journal of the Physical Sciences, 5 (5). pp. 496-506. ISSN 1992-1950,
spellingShingle Q Science (General)
S Agriculture (General)
Ali, F.
Use of vegetation for slope protection: Root mechanical properties of some tropical plants
title Use of vegetation for slope protection: Root mechanical properties of some tropical plants
title_full Use of vegetation for slope protection: Root mechanical properties of some tropical plants
title_fullStr Use of vegetation for slope protection: Root mechanical properties of some tropical plants
title_full_unstemmed Use of vegetation for slope protection: Root mechanical properties of some tropical plants
title_short Use of vegetation for slope protection: Root mechanical properties of some tropical plants
title_sort use of vegetation for slope protection root mechanical properties of some tropical plants
topic Q Science (General)
S Agriculture (General)
work_keys_str_mv AT alif useofvegetationforslopeprotectionrootmechanicalpropertiesofsometropicalplants