dc.contributor
Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya. Doctorat en Enginyeria del Terreny
dc.contributor
Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya. Departament d'Enginyeria Civil i Ambiental
dc.contributor
Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya. GGMM - Grup de Geotècnia i Mecànica de Materials
dc.contributor.author
Boiero, Alvaro
dc.contributor.author
Romero Morales, Enrique Edgar
dc.contributor.author
Arroyo Álvarez de Toledo, Marcos
dc.date.accessioned
2026-02-20T02:53:35Z
dc.date.available
2026-02-20T02:53:35Z
dc.identifier
Boiero, A.; Romero, E.; Arroyo, M. Shear strength at the soil-root interface under different saturation states. A: International Workshop on Soil-Vegetation-Atmosphere Interaction. «Proceedings RootS25 3rd International Workshop on Soil-Vegetation-Atmosphere Interaction». 2025, p. 1-4. ISBN 3107-300X. DOI 10.53243/RootS2025-61 .
dc.identifier
https://hdl.handle.net/2117/455822
dc.identifier
10.53243/RootS2025-61
dc.identifier.uri
https://hdl.handle.net/2117/455822
dc.description.abstract
Understanding the mechanical interaction at the soil-root interface is essential for predicting how vegetation stabilises slopes, especially under changing vegetation-atmosphere conditions. One of the main challenges is the interplay between mechanical and hydraulic effects, which are mediated by soil matric suction and the degree of saturation. This study presents results from direct shear tests on representative soil-root interfaces conducted at different soil degrees of saturation and matric suctions. It considers two types of soil —silty sand and silty clay with coarse sand particles— and uses root interfaces with different surface roughness, specifically natural roots and treated wood with rough and smooth surfaces, which were characterised experimentally. The tests were performed under constant and low normal stresses (7 to 25 kPa). The ultimate shear strength reached its maximum at intermediate degrees of saturation (typically between 0.4 and 0.5), with decreases observed at both very dry (saturation 0.1) and fully saturated conditions. Natural roots consistently exhibited higher shear strength than treated wood, emphasising the importance of surface roughness.
dc.description.abstract
The authors are grateful for the financial support provided by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and Union Europea Next Generation EU/PRTR.
dc.description.abstract
Peer Reviewed
dc.description.abstract
Postprint (published version)
dc.format
application/pdf
dc.relation
https://www.issmge.org/publications/publication/shear-strength-at-the-soil-root-interface-under-different-saturation-states
dc.subject
Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Enginyeria civil::Geotècnia::Mecànica de sòls
dc.subject
Soil-root interface shear strength
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Interface shear tests
dc.subject
Unsaturated states
dc.subject
Bioengineering
dc.title
Shear strength at the soil-root interface under different saturation states
dc.type
Conference report
