Investigating the amount of reinforcement of Alnus subcordata root in order to use in bioengineering

The root of vegetation is known to increase the hill-slope stability by reinforcing soil shear strength. The amount of reinforcement depends on density and tensile strength of roots therefore this study assessed these biotechnical properties. The profile trenching methods was used to obtain root area ratio (RAR) and number and diameter of roots in each depth were measured. Standard Insrton was used to determine the tensile strength of roots. The results indicated that the root density and number of root were decreased with increasing depth. Tensile strength is decreased with diameter of roots following power function with an average of 16. 29 MPa. Using the results of biotechnical characteristics and Wu model، the reinforcement effect was calculated and minimum and maximum of reinforcement were 0. 55 KPa and 110. 76 KPa، respectively. The results presented in this paper can be used for hill-slope stability with bioengineering method.