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Effects of gauge length and strain rate on the tensile strength of tree roots

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Abstract

Root tensile strength plays an important role in soil stabilization and fixation. Testing and separating the different factors that affect root tensile strength are important. In the present study, the effects of four factors, namely, gauge length, strain rate, species, and root diameter, on root tensile strength were studied. Uniaxial tensile tests were conducted to acquire the root tensile strength of five tree species commonly growing in the mountains of northern China, namely, Chinese pine (Pinus tabulaeformis Carr.), Larch (Larix principis-rupprechtii Mayr.), White birch (Betula platyphylla Suk.), Mongolian oak (Quercus mongolicus Fisch.), and Elm (Ulmus pumila L.). Based on the results, Elm and White birch roots were the most resistant to tension, followed by Mongolian oak and Chinese pine roots. Larch roots were found to be the least resistant to tension. A power relationship was established between root diameter and root tensile strength. Based on linear regression analysis, gauge length was negatively correlated with root tensile strength. Tensile strength decreased with increasing gauge length. In addition, an unexpected variation of tensile strength was observed between two strain rates (10 and 400 mm min−1). The present study can serve as a basis for further studies on mechanical properties of root system and root reinforcement under different test circumstances, although this should be done with caution.

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Acknowledgments

We thank X. Ji, H. Zhao, P. Wang and Q. Wu for their help in the experiments, data analysis and manuscript preparation and the reviewers for providing useful suggestions during the manuscript revisions. This study was financially supported by the Projects of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 30872067).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Water Resources Science and Engineering, Taiyuan University of Technology, 030024, Taiyuan, Shanxi, China

    Chaobo Zhang & Jing Jiang

  2. Key Laboratory of Soil and Water Conservation and Combating Desertification of Ministry of Education of China, School of Water and Soil Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, 100083, Beijing, China

    Lihua Chen

  3. Capital Engineering and Research Incorporation Ltd., MCC Group, 100053, Beijing, China

    Shuo Zhou

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  1. Chaobo Zhang
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  2. Lihua Chen
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Correspondence to Chaobo Zhang.

Additional information

Communicated by S. Mayr.

C. Zhang and L. Chen contributed equally to this work.

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Zhang, C., Chen, L., Jiang, J. et al. Effects of gauge length and strain rate on the tensile strength of tree roots. Trees 26, 1577–1584 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-012-0732-5

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