Rooting for sustainable performance
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Southampton
Department Name: Faculty of Engineering & the Environment
Abstract
Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.
Publications
Woodman N
(2020)
Mathematical and computational modelling of vegetated soil incorporating hydraulically-driven finite strain deformation
in Computers and Geotechnics
Bull DJ
(2022)
Modelling of stress transfer in root-reinforced soils informed by four-dimensional X-ray computed tomography and digital volume correlation data.
in Proceedings. Mathematical, physical, and engineering sciences
Bull DJ
(2020)
Mechanisms of root reinforcement in soils: an experimental methodology using four-dimensional X-ray computed tomography and digital volume correlation.
in Proceedings. Mathematical, physical, and engineering sciences
Bull D
(2019)
Understanding the mechanisms of root-reinforcement in soils: soil shear tests using X-ray computed tomography and digital volume correlation
in E3S Web of Conferences
Briggs K
(2016)
The influence of tree root water uptake on the long term hydrology of a clay fill railway embankment
in Transportation Geotechnics
| Description | A novel apparatus has been developed that enables rooted soil to be sheared within a large X-ray CT scanner. This has enabled three-dimensional visualisation (particularly of strains and displacements) within the root-soil composite during shear, and has enabled us to get a much better understanding of fundamental mechanisms by which the roots and soil interact to provide a much larger (compared with fallow soil) shearing resistance/strength. The experimental results have enabled us to understand the advantages and limitations of different models for plant-root reinforcement proposed within the scientific literature. We have also developed a novel numerical code that combines unsaturated soil behaviour, a suitable soil constitutive (failure) model, plant evapotranspiration and atmosphere interactions, and a plant root reinforcement model (created by partner institution Dundee University, based on shear box tests above). This model is being used to investigate how plant roots can be incorporated into engineering slope stability calculations in a more accurate and reliable way, to give improved guidance on the use of plants in enhancing slope stability. |
| Exploitation Route | The findings from the numerical modelling work have the potential to impact the way in which plant root reinforcement is incorporated into the design of engineered and natural slopes, with the idea that the vegetation can be 'designed' to enhance slope stability in addition to the usual ecological and environmental functions. It is intended that improved design approaches can be incorporated into appropriate industry guidance on managing slopes and earthworks. This would be used infrastructure earthwork owners and their managing agents (for earthworks on the highway, railway and canal networks), and in forestry systems on natural slopes prone to instability. There are also links to agricultural systems, where there is interest in the way in which the roots of crops reinforce the soil against erosion. The numerical models and shear box apparatus/method developed, can be used for allied academic research into the impacts of root reinforcement on soils, for slope stability, forestry and agriculture. There are clear opportunities to take knowledge and modelling approaches developed relating to plant root reinforcement into wider academic research into the long-term deterioration of engineered slopes and earthworks being considered by the major EPSRC programme grant ACHILLES, in which the PI and one Co-I on this grant are also involved. |
| Sectors | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Construction,Environment,Transport |
| Description | The findings and models developed in the grant were applied as part of a short Institutional EPSRC Impact Acceleration Account award run with High Speed 2 (HS2) in 2019, looking at trying to achieve more effective engineering design for vegetated slopes that would enable reduced land-take. Discussions have taken place recently (2022-23) with Network Rail and contractors for High Speed 2 to consider the potential to carry out small field scale studies looking at the impacts of vegetation on slope stability to provide supporting data and evidence for further application of the science and models developed within the grant. The understanding of vegetation rooting developed within this grant has also influenced advanced numerical simulations being used to understand the long-term deterioration and failure of earthworks in the EPSRC Programme Grant ACHILLES (see outputs and impact summary for EP/R034575/1). Other impact from Rooting for Sustainable Performance is also described by Prof Glyn Bengough at the University of Dundee who was the PI on the lead part of the project (EP/M020355/1), and Prof Paul Hallett at the University of Aberdeen who was also a research partner (see EP/M019713/1). |
| First Year Of Impact | 2020 |
| Sector | Construction,Transport |
| Impact Types | Economic |
| Description | Assessment, Costing and enHancement of long lIfe, Long Linear assEtS (ACHILLES) |
| Amount | £4,872,904 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | EP/R034575/1 |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 07/2018 |
| End | 12/2022 |
| Description | EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Sustainable Infrastructure Systems |
| Amount | £100,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | EP/L01582X/1 |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 10/2015 |
| End | 09/2019 |
| Description | Impact Acceleration Account - University of Southampton 2017 - specfic impcat proposal related to slope engineering |
| Amount | £2,933,116 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | EP/R511766/1 |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2019 |
| End | 03/2020 |
| Description | Network Rail CP6 R&D Programme Project - Investigation of geometry problems at transitions onto and off underbridges due to soil moisture deficit effects |
| Amount | £50,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Network Rail Ltd |
| Sector | Private |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2020 |
| End | 09/2021 |
| Description | UKCRIC Pump Priming Panel July 2017 |
| Amount | £1,013,092 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | EP/R013535/1 |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2018 |
| End | 12/2019 |
| Title | A large direct shearbox for shearing rooted soil in the X-Ray CT scanner |
| Description | Development and construction of a working shear apparatus that can shear large plant-rooted samples of soil within an X-Ray CT scanner. This enables visualisation of how the plant roots and soil interact during the soil shearing process. It is a technically challenging and novel apparatus. |
| Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
| Year Produced | 2018 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | It has enabled a complete three-dimensional visualisation of how plant roots interact with a soil during the shearing process. This will lead to a much better understanding of how plant roots stabilise the soil, and prevent soil slope erosion and landslide problems. |
| Title | A numerical model that incorperates the key physical processes for understanding plant root effects on engineered slopes |
| Description | A new complex numerical (finite difference) model that incorporates: unsaturated water flow, soil mechanics and a constitutive model of soil failure, a plant-soil-atmosphere model, and a root mechanics/soil reinforcement model. |
| Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
| Year Produced | 2019 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | The model is being used to investigate plant root reinforcement effects in engineered slopes. It is being written up as a journal paper. |
| Title | Data for: Mechanisms of root-reinforcement in soils: an experimental methodology using four-dimensional X-ray computed tomography and digital volume correlation |
| Description | Collection of data files used in the paper titled: Mechanisms of root-reinforcement in soils: an experimental methodology using four-dimensional X-ray computed tomography and digital volume correlation. Additional dataset which covers the noise study CT scans and digital volume correlation noise studies can be found in DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.3361832 Data contains the following: X-ray CT data for the interrupted direct shear tests of a soil sample containing a Willow plant. The first file is the specimen scanned unloaded, followed by seven incremental shear load steps to 20 mm shear displacement. Files are 8-bit unsigned and 1800x1800x1600px. Voxel resolution is 0.04642 mm. 20180430_HUTCH_1839_DJB_willow_C_8-bit_1800x1800x1600.raw 20180430_HUTCH_1839_DJB_willow_C_Load_A_8-bit_1800x1800x1600.raw 20180430_HUTCH_1839_DJB_willow_C_Load_B_8-bit_1800x1800x1600.raw 20180430_HUTCH_1839_DJB_willow_C_Load_C_8-bit_1800x1800x1600.raw 20180430_HUTCH_1839_DJB_willow_C_Load_D_8-bit_1800x1800x1600.raw 20180430_HUTCH_1839_DJB_willow_C_Load_E_8-bit_1800x1800x1600.raw 20180430_HUTCH_1839_DJB_willow_C_Load_F_8-bit_1800x1800x1600.raw 20180430_HUTCH_1839_DJB_willow_C_Load_G_8-bit_1800x1800x1600.raw Direct shear vs. displacement data is presented in an Excel spreadsheet: All_load_data_with_reducing_area.xlsx Normal and shear strain DVC data which has been averaged and plotted against specimen depth is presented in an Excel spreadsheet: Average_slice_vs_depth_data_all_samples_all_loads3.xlsx CT scan metadata giving information to the scan settings, voxel resolution, etc. is contained in a .zip file which consists of .xtekct and .XML files generated from the Nikon CT scanner. CT_Scan_Metadata.zip Drawings and Solidworks CAD files of the direct shear test rig are contained within the .zip file. There are a number of parts to the assembly. The file SSSB1003-5.SLDASM contains the complete assembly of the direct shear rig and will help identify the part names. The folder CAD_Drawings contains pdf documents of the part drawings. Direct_Shear_Drawings_Solidworks_Files.zip Tabulated DVC data taken at 32x32x32px subset size is contained inside a .zip file. These consist of tab separated .dat files from unloaded (data_1.dat) through incremental load steps Load A, Load B... Load G, (data_2.dat, data_3.dat... data_8.dat). The structure of the .dat file contains columns of data with each column number corresponding to the following: (1) x, (2) y (3) z, (4) vx, (5) vy, (6) vz, (7) exx, (8) eyy, (9) ezz, (10) exy, (11) exz, (12) eyz, (13) volumetric strain, (14) is valid. Columns 1-3 are subset positions in mm, 4-6 are displacements in mm, 7-9 are normal strains, 10-12 are shear strains, 13 is volumetric strain and 14 is a binary value indicating if the subset is valid. DVC_Load_Data_Willow_C.zip Tabulated DVC data applied to the load step CT data at 32, 48, 64, 96, 128 pixels is presented in the .zip files containing .dat tab separated files. The structure of the .dat files is described in the previous bullet point. These files were used to construct the noise study applied to incrementally loaded CT data by sampling regions away from the shear zone where the strain signals are close to zero. DVC_Noise_Study_Data_Load_Steps_Willow_C.zip Processed noise study data which compares the effects of DVC subset size is presented in the .xlsx file. This file contains both the controlled noise experiment data (stationary, magnification and rigid body motion) and noise study data applied to incrementally loaded data using sampled regions away from the shear zone where the strain signals are close to zero. Willow_C_Processed_Noise_study2.xlsx Tabulated data which compares the local x displacement vs depth profile from DVC and direct measurement of root position is contained in the following Excel spreadsheet file: X_Displacement_Root_and_DVC_Comparison_Willow C.xlsx |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2020 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | The dataset has been used by others to test CT image algorithms. |
| URL | https://zenodo.org/record/3352268 |
| Title | Dataset for effects of shear zone thickness in root-reinforced soils |
| Description | Dataset for paper titled: Modelling of stress transfer in root reinforced soils informed by 4D X-ray computed tomography and digital volume correlation data Rood Area Ratios.zip - Root area ratio data for figure 6 and figure 7, and table 5. All_load_data_with_reducing_area.xlsx - Shear Stress vs shear displacement plot for figure 4. Local_shear_Zone_Thickness_vs_x_displacement.xlsx - Change in shear zone thickness for figure 13. Depth_vs_vx_plots_local_regions.xlsx - Depth vs x-displacement line profiles for figure 11. Estimate of change in length.xlsx - Comparison between changes in root length derived from equations and measured directly from the root path geometry for figure 14. Artificial_root.xlsx - Shear stress-displacement curves for specimens containing an artificial root, and a fallow specimen for figure 17. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2019 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Data set being interrogated and used by others in similar research. |
| URL | https://zenodo.org/record/3558554 |
| Title | Dataset for effects of shear zone thickness in root-reinforced soils: Fallow D X-ray CT scans and digital volume correlation data |
| Description | Dataset for effects of shear zone thickness in root-reinforced soils: Fallow D X-ray CT scans and digital volume correlation data |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2019 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Data set being interrogated and used by others in similar research. |
| URL | https://zenodo.org/record/3558069 |
| Title | Dataset for effects of shear zone thickness in root-reinforced soils: Fallow P X-ray CT scans and digital volume correlation data |
| Description | Dataset for effects of shear zone thickness in root-reinforced soils: Fallow P X-ray CT scans and digital volume correlation data |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2019 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Data set being interrogated and used by others in similar research. |
| URL | https://zenodo.org/record/3558539 |
| Title | Dataset for effects of shear zone thickness in root-reinforced soils: Gorse A X-ray CT scans and digital volume correlation data |
| Description | Dataset for effects of shear zone thickness in root-reinforced soils: Gorse A X-ray CT scans and digital volume correlation data |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2019 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Data set being interrogated and used by others in similar research. |
| URL | https://zenodo.org/record/3556805 |
| Title | Dataset for effects of shear zone thickness in root-reinforced soils: Gorse G X-ray CT scans and digital volume correlation data |
| Description | Dataset for effects of shear zone thickness in root-reinforced soils: Gorse G X-ray CT scans and digital volume correlation data |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2019 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Data set being interrogated and used by others in similar research. |
| URL | https://zenodo.org/record/3556824 |
| Title | Dataset for effects of shear zone thickness in root-reinforced soils: Willow C X-ray CT scans and digital volume correlation data |
| Description | Dataset for effects of shear zone thickness in root-reinforced soils: Willow C X-ray CT scans and digital volume correlation data |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2019 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Data set being interrogated and used by others in similar research. |
| URL | https://zenodo.org/record/3556741 |
| Title | Dataset for effects of shear zone thickness in root-reinforced soils: Willow F X-ray CT scans and digital volume correlation data |
| Description | Dataset for effects of shear zone thickness in root-reinforced soils: Willow F X-ray CT scans and digital volume correlation data |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2019 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Data set being interrogated and used by others in similar research. |
| URL | https://zenodo.org/record/3556792 |
| Title | Noise study data for: Mechanisms of root-reinforcement in soils: an experimental methodology using four-dimensional X-ray computed tomography and digital volume correlation |
| Description | This dataset contains noise study data used in the paper: Mechanisms of root-reinforcement in soils: an experimental methodology using four-dimensional X-ray computed tomography and digital volume correlation. These include raw CT scans and processed digital volume correlation data. This dataset is part of another dataset which covers other aspects of the paper DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.3352268 The structure of the dataset is as follows: Noise study CT raw volumes are contained in a zip file. There are four raw files corresponding to the four noise study steps. These files are 8-bit unsigned, dimensions are 1800 x 1800 x 1400 pixels. A txt file giving more details to the data is included. CT_Raw_data_Noise_Scans.zip Metadata files generated for each scan given details of scan parameters are found in the zip file: CT_Scan_Metadata.zip Tabulated digital volume data for the noise study scans are contained in the zip file. Tabulated data for each subset size is included in subfolders. A .txt file explains the structure of the tab separated .dat files, i.e. what each column of data represents, and what CT scan each of the four .dat files relate to. DVC_Noise_Study_Data.zip |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2020 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | The dataset has been used by others for testing CT image analysis algorithms. |
| URL | https://zenodo.org/record/3361832 |
| Description | Highways England |
| Organisation | Department of Transport |
| Department | Highways Agency |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Provision of research data, once the fieldwork is complete. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Staff time in accessing bioengineered slope sites and help with exhuming vegetation root systems for the purposes of the research project. |
| Impact | The collaboration will produce data on the performance of existing bioengineered slope sites, both of use to the research project and to Highways England. |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | Discussions with Global Centre for Rail Excellence and contractors |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Formal input into the development of the Global Centre for Rail Excellence (GCRE) in South Wales, as a major piece of new rail infrastructure and future research facility. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022,2023 |
| Description | Meeting with a national contractor on establishment and performance of vegetation |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Meeting with High Speed 2 joint contractor on enhancing the establishment and performance of vegetation through use of tunnelling waste materials. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Meetings with Network Rail on vegetation and earthworks management |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Broad technical input/advice to Network Rail (and their consultants - Atkins) on vegetation and earthworks management policy and practice, and installation of field instrumentation. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022,2023 |
| Description | Presentation to COST Action TU1202 final conference |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The presentation given as part of the final dissemination conference for EU COST Action TU1202 on climate impacts on infrastructure slopes. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Presentation to the 12th ALERT Olek Zienkiewicz School 2021 (training school for early career researchers) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | European school for early career researchers working on climate and vegetation impacts on engineered and natural slopes. Gave online presentation on recent relevent Southampton research. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | http://alertgeomaterials.eu/2021/03/12th-alert-olek-zienkiewicz-course-18-20-may-2021-13-20-april-on... |
| Description | Presentation to the Dundee Roots Group meeting |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Two presentations on Rooting for Sustainable Performance research work were given to the 'Dundee Roots Group', which includes practitioners, academics, members of James Hutton Institute, and postgraduate students with an interest in plant root systems for agriculture and engineering. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Talk at an International Conference - IS-Glasgow 2019 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Conference talk to an audience of academics, industry practitioners, and infrastructure owners. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://www.is-glasgow2019.org.uk/ |
| Description | The 4th Annual Advances in X-Ray Imaging Workshop, Dimond Light Source Ltd |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The aim of the workshop was to bring scientists from different fields to discuss developments and applications of a variety of X-ray imaging and complementary techniques, and to build international collaborations. Others attending the conference were very keen to have a copy of x-Ray CT data sets that we have generated in the project, once these are publicly available. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://www.diamond.ac.uk/Home/Events/2019/Advances-in-X-ray-Imaging0.html# |
| Description | Workshop on slopes research and and discussion with industry panel, including some Project Partners |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | To engage relevant stakeholders with recent University research on slope stability. There are on-going discussions with High Speed 2 about a project to deliver direct impact from research to design practice. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Workshop with Project Partners and other intertested industry participants |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | An engagement workshop with Project Partners and other industry participants. We asked the industry participants to tell us what they thought their problems related to vegetation and slopes were, and how the research project could influence these. There was a very helpful discussion which has influenced decisions on how the academic team proceed with the research project, and industry has also provided opportunities in relation to particular bioengineered slope sites. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |