The effect of diameter and moisture content on biomechanical properties of four native Australian trees

Zhu, J; El-Zein, A; Miao, G

The effect of diameter and moisture content on biomechanical properties of four native Australian trees

Zhu, J El-Zein, A Miao, G

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Publisher:: SPRINGER
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Plant and Soil, 2024
Issue Date:: 2024-01-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Zhu, J
dc.contributor.author	El-Zein, A
dc.contributor.author	Miao, G https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6912-0391
dc.date.accessioned	2025-04-03T01:14:38Z
dc.date.available	2025-04-03T01:14:38Z
dc.date.issued	2024-01-01
dc.identifier.citation	Plant and Soil, 2024
dc.identifier.issn	0032-079X
dc.identifier.issn	1573-5036
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/186543
dc.description.abstract	Background and Aims: Roots of plants have been shown to be effective in reinforcing soils against slope failures. Two key mechanical properties in such reinforcement are the root’s tensile strength (TS) and elastic modulus (EM). However, knowledge on the combined effects of root moisture content (RMC) and root diameter on these properties is scarce. The study aims to quantify these relationships for root samples of four native Australian tree (A. costata, B. integrifolia, E. reticulatus, and E. racemosa). Methods: A series of tensile tests were conducted and the root diameter at the fracture point and RMC were measured immediately after each test. Data were analysed using both univariate and multivariate analyses. Results: Both TS and EM declined with increasing diameter. Power-law expressions were found to describe the relationship between TS and diameter moderately well, but less so the one between TS and RMC. Multivariate analyses yielded a double power-law for TS versus diameter and RMC with a stronger fit than univariate ones. A weaker power-law was found between EM and these 2 variables. Of the four trees tested, A. costata exhibited the highest tensile strength and elastic modulus at a 1 mm diameter, while B. integrifolia yielded the lowest. Conclusion: Considering both diameter and RMC as explanatory variables of TS and EM yield better accounts of experimental data. This work contributes to a better understanding of reinforcement capacity of trees generally, as well as the specific performance of roots of four native Australian trees.
dc.language	English
dc.publisher	SPRINGER
dc.relation.ispartof	Plant and Soil
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1007/s11104-024-07136-1
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.subject	05 Environmental Sciences, 06 Biological Sciences, 07 Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences
dc.subject.classification	Agronomy & Agriculture
dc.subject.classification	30 Agricultural, veterinary and food sciences
dc.subject.classification	31 Biological sciences
dc.subject.classification	41 Environmental sciences
dc.title	The effect of diameter and moisture content on biomechanical properties of four native Australian trees
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.for	05 Environmental Sciences
utslib.for	06 Biological Sciences
utslib.for	07 Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology/School of Professional Practice and Leadership
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
dc.rights.license	This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0). To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
dc.date.updated	2025-04-03T01:14:36Z
pubs.publication-status	Published

Abstract:

Background and Aims: Roots of plants have been shown to be effective in reinforcing soils against slope failures. Two key mechanical properties in such reinforcement are the root’s tensile strength (TS) and elastic modulus (EM). However, knowledge on the combined effects of root moisture content (RMC) and root diameter on these properties is scarce. The study aims to quantify these relationships for root samples of four native Australian tree (A. costata, B. integrifolia, E. reticulatus, and E. racemosa). Methods: A series of tensile tests were conducted and the root diameter at the fracture point and RMC were measured immediately after each test. Data were analysed using both univariate and multivariate analyses. Results: Both TS and EM declined with increasing diameter. Power-law expressions were found to describe the relationship between TS and diameter moderately well, but less so the one between TS and RMC. Multivariate analyses yielded a double power-law for TS versus diameter and RMC with a stronger fit than univariate ones. A weaker power-law was found between EM and these 2 variables. Of the four trees tested, A. costata exhibited the highest tensile strength and elastic modulus at a 1 mm diameter, while B. integrifolia yielded the lowest. Conclusion: Considering both diameter and RMC as explanatory variables of TS and EM yield better accounts of experimental data. This work contributes to a better understanding of reinforcement capacity of trees generally, as well as the specific performance of roots of four native Australian trees.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/186543