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Soil desiccation cracking and its characterization in vegetated soil: A perspective review
Sanandam Bordoloi1, Junjun Ni1, Charles Wang Wai Ng1
1Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
Vegetation
Area of Science:
- Geotechnical Engineering
- Soil Science
- Environmental Science
Background:
- Desiccation cracks form in vegetated infrastructures due to complex soil-water-plant interactions.
- Vegetation presents a dual role, influencing crack development through water uptake (suction) and root stabilization (reinforcement).
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide a comprehensive state-of-the-art review on desiccation processes in vegetated soils.
- To systematically analyze the multifaceted influence of vegetation on soil cracking.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on unsaturated soil mechanics and crack formation theories.
- Systematic discussion of vegetation's impact, including transpiration, root effects, and plant traits.
- Compilation and tabulation of over 150 studies on desiccation cracks.
Main Results:
- Vegetation's "love-hate" effect on desiccation cracks is highlighted, balancing suction and reinforcement.
- Various measurement techniques (intrusive/non-intrusive, lab/field) and modeling approaches are presented.
- A comprehensive table summarizes key parameters from 150+ studies, including soil type, vegetation, and crack characteristics.
Conclusions:
- Understanding soil-water-plant interactions is crucial for managing desiccation cracks in vegetated systems.
- Future research should focus on advanced measurement techniques, geotechnical modeling, and bio-amendments to better predict and control soil cracking.
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