Evaluation for Traction Effect of Yunnan Pine Lateral Roots on Soil

Traction effect, normally in shallow soil, enhances the tensile strength of soil in rooting zone through mechanical effect of plant lateral roots on soil. This effect is one way in which vegetation can contribute to lateral reinforcement of a shallow soil layer. To verify how to test traction effect of lateral roots, and how to evaluate its potential capability, the modeling prediction and experimental testing for this effect are presented in this paper. The mechanics procedure of traction effect is described, and the methods for evaluating the magnitude of lateral roots tensile strength and the magnitude of root-soil bond strength are discussed. The prediction model is established to estimate the potential capability of traction effect. Based on digital simulation, a solution is proposed for analyzing and solving the prediction model, and the correlative simulation system is developed in MATLAB. Furthermore, the experimental scheme is designed, and the experimental platform is constructed. Yunnan pine Lateral root specimens are employed in laboratory experiment testing and modeling prediction. The results show that traction effect of lateral roots on soil is obvious, and proposed prediction model is capable of indicating the actualities of traction effect and its variation.