A simplified analytical approach to the equivalent geotechnical multi-scale modelling of composite Soil and Water Bioengineering (SWBe) solutions

Soil Water Bioengineering (SWBe) solutions are significantly more complex than conventional “gray” solutions due to the heterogeneity of their elements and of the biological processes which intervene in their living components and which induce a significant spatial and temporal variability of their geohydromechanical properties. This paper proposes a simple but rational analytical approach to the parameterization of the aggregate contribution of soil, roots, and wood to the equivalent geomechanical cohesion of this composite continuum for geotechnical applications such as slope stability. The ease and breadth of applicability of the proposed model is demonstrated for a small-scale engineered retaining solution and a larger-scale rootedslope. Outputs are discussed critically.