The role of hydro-mechanical vegetation in slope stability: A review

Abstract Vegetated slopes have variouslevels of slope stability. Variation of slope stability is affected by characteristics of vegetation, slopes, and soils which are shown by hydrological and mechanical (hydro-mechanical) effects. This article presents a review of the role of hydro-mechanical vegetation on slope stability asan explanation of landslide mechanism on vegetated slopes. The review showed that the hydro-mechanicaleffectsfrom rootsenhanced matric suction by evapotranspiration (ua – uw), change of volumetric water content by plant water uptake ( χ ), and enhanced effective soil cohesion due to root matrix reinforcement (CR), while vegetation and wind load canenhance surcharge (Sw) andenhance wind load force parallel to the slope (Fwind). Hydro-mechanical vegetation effects can increase or decrease slope stability depending on factors of slope steepness, root diameter, root depth, root area ratio, root morphology, soil aggregate, season or weather (wet, dry, snow), vegetation type, slope shape, location, and vegetation spacing.