U.S.-New Zealand Cooperative Research: Soil Reinforcement by Vegetation Roots

该奖项将支持俄亥俄州立大学的Tien Wu博士和新西兰森林研究所的A. Watson博士之间的合作研究。该项目的主要目标是建立根系几何和土根相互作用的真实模型，用于分析和评价植被根系作为土木工程建设项目的土壤加固。新西兰森林研究所收集的数据将作为该模型的基础。有了这些数据，二维土壤-根相互作用模型将被扩展到三维空间。将在新西兰对辐射松根系进行原位试验，结果用于验证模型。该模型将考虑根系几何形状和土壤-根系相互作用的随机性。由模型生成的根和土壤性质的均值和方差将用于评估系统在土壤加固中的估计性能的均值和方差。该项目将吴开发的模型与新西兰森林研究所现有的数据库和实地研究的专业知识结合起来，代表了出色的合作。这是推进土壤-根系相互作用模型的重要基础工作，也有可能有助于解决诸如流域管理和土地利用规划等土木工程项目中主要关注的边坡稳定性问题。

This award will support collaborative research between Dr. Tien Wu of Ohio State University and Dr. A. Watson of the New Zealand Forest Research Institute. The principle objective of the project is to establish realistic models of root geometry and soil-root interaction that can be used in analyses and evaluation of vegetation roots as soil reinforcement for civil engineering construction projects. Data collected by the New Zealand Forest Research Institute will be used as the basis for the model. With this data, a two-dimensional soil- root interaction model will be extended into three dimensions. In-situ tests on root systems of Pinus radiata will be performed in New Zealand, and the results used to verify the model. The stochastic nature of root geometry and soil-root interaction will be accounted for in the model. The mean and variance of root and soil properties, generated by the model, will be used to evaluate the mean and variance of the estimated performance of the system in soil reinforcement. The project represents excellent collaboration in combining the models developed by Wu with the existing data base and expertise in field studies available at the New Zealand Forest Research Institute. This is important fundamental work in advancing soil-root interaction models, as well as havingpotential for contributing to the solution of slope stability problems of major concern in such civil engineering projects as watershed management and land use planning.