Root and fibre reinforcement impacts on pore dynamics and water storage capacity

F. Anselmucci; H. Cheng; M. Alam; A. Das; V. Magnanimo

doi:10.53243/RootS2025-13

Root and fibre reinforcement impacts on pore dynamics and water storage capacity

F. Anselmucci
, H. Cheng
, M. Alam
, A. Das
, V. Magnanimo

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › Academic › peer-review

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Abstract

The study aims to develop a predictive framework for water retention in reinforced sand under partially saturated conditions. We examine how intruders like crop roots and nylon fibres modify pore size distribution and water retention in sand. Three soil configurations, bare, root-reinforced, and fibre-reinforced, were tested in laboratory-scale samples under wetting-drying cycles. Soil water retention was monitored, and soil water retention curves were fitted using the Van Genuchten model. Pore size distribution changes were quantified via X-ray computed tomography at capillary, funicular, and pendular regimes. Rooted reinforced samples were analysed, after root growth stopped, to focus only on structural effects, and compared with fibre reinforced soil of equivalent intruder length density. Rooted reinforced soil has a water storage capacity of 15-20% more than fibre reinforced or bare soils, due to larger, interconnected pores, while fibre reinforced forms isolated smaller pores. Xray computed tomography shows pore size and connectivity changes linked to retention differences. These insights are used to validate a multiphase flow numerical model. The integrated framework will be adopted to develop a predictive model to manage drought-resilient soil.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Proceedings RootS25
Subtitle of host publication	3rd International Workshop on Soil-Vegetation-Atmosphere Interaction
Editors	D. Boldrin, M. Cecconi, F. Cotecchia, A. Leung, G. Pedone, P. Perrini, E. Romero, V. Tagarelli, L. Zdravković
Publisher	International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering
Number of pages	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.53243/RootS2025-13
Publication status	Published - 8 Nov 2025
Event	3rd International Workshop on Soil-Vegetation-Atmosphere Interaction, Roots 2025 - Bari, Italy Duration: 6 Nov 2025 → 8 Nov 2025 Conference number: 3 https://www.issmge.org/publications/review-platform/conferences/roots2025

Publication series

Name	Proceedings RootS
Publisher	ISSMGE
Volume	2025
ISSN (Electronic)	3107-300X

Workshop

Workshop	3rd International Workshop on Soil-Vegetation-Atmosphere Interaction, Roots 2025
Abbreviated title	Roots 2025
Country/Territory	Italy
City	Bari
Period	6/11/25 → 8/11/25
Internet address	https://www.issmge.org/publications/review-platform/conferences/roots2025

Keywords

Sand water retention capabilities
Reinforced sand
Experimental data
X-ray computed tomography
Discrete element modelling

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Anselmucci, F., Cheng, H., Alam, M., Das, A., & Magnanimo, V. (2025). Root and fibre reinforcement impacts on pore dynamics and water storage capacity. In D. Boldrin, M. Cecconi, F. Cotecchia, A. Leung, G. Pedone, P. Perrini, E. Romero, V. Tagarelli, & L. Zdravković (Eds.), Proceedings RootS25 : 3rd International Workshop on Soil-Vegetation-Atmosphere Interaction Article 13 (Proceedings RootS; Vol. 2025). International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering. https://doi.org/10.53243/RootS2025-13

Anselmucci, F. ; Cheng, H. ; Alam, M. et al. / Root and fibre reinforcement impacts on pore dynamics and water storage capacity. Proceedings RootS25 : 3rd International Workshop on Soil-Vegetation-Atmosphere Interaction. editor / D. Boldrin ; M. Cecconi ; F. Cotecchia ; A. Leung ; G. Pedone ; P. Perrini ; E. Romero ; V. Tagarelli ; L. Zdravković. International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, 2025. (Proceedings RootS).

@inproceedings{a9820493f3a54f16beaf0018c2aef0b3,

title = "Root and fibre reinforcement impacts on pore dynamics and water storage capacity",

abstract = "The study aims to develop a predictive framework for water retention in reinforced sand under partially saturated conditions. We examine how intruders like crop roots and nylon fibres modify pore size distribution and water retention in sand. Three soil configurations, bare, root-reinforced, and fibre-reinforced, were tested in laboratory-scale samples under wetting-drying cycles. Soil water retention was monitored, and soil water retention curves were fitted using the Van Genuchten model. Pore size distribution changes were quantified via X-ray computed tomography at capillary, funicular, and pendular regimes. Rooted reinforced samples were analysed, after root growth stopped, to focus only on structural effects, and compared with fibre reinforced soil of equivalent intruder length density. Rooted reinforced soil has a water storage capacity of 15-20\% more than fibre reinforced or bare soils, due to larger, interconnected pores, while fibre reinforced forms isolated smaller pores. Xray computed tomography shows pore size and connectivity changes linked to retention differences. These insights are used to validate a multiphase flow numerical model. The integrated framework will be adopted to develop a predictive model to manage drought-resilient soil. ",

keywords = "Sand water retention capabilities, Reinforced sand, Experimental data, X-ray computed tomography, Discrete element modelling",

author = "F. Anselmucci and H. Cheng and M. Alam and A. Das and V. Magnanimo",

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Anselmucci, F, Cheng, H, Alam, M, Das, A & Magnanimo, V 2025, Root and fibre reinforcement impacts on pore dynamics and water storage capacity. in D Boldrin, M Cecconi, F Cotecchia, A Leung, G Pedone, P Perrini, E Romero, V Tagarelli & L Zdravković (eds), Proceedings RootS25 : 3rd International Workshop on Soil-Vegetation-Atmosphere Interaction., 13, Proceedings RootS, vol. 2025, International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, 3rd International Workshop on Soil-Vegetation-Atmosphere Interaction, Roots 2025, Bari, Italy, 6/11/25. https://doi.org/10.53243/RootS2025-13

Root and fibre reinforcement impacts on pore dynamics and water storage capacity. / Anselmucci, F.; Cheng, H.; Alam, M. et al.
Proceedings RootS25 : 3rd International Workshop on Soil-Vegetation-Atmosphere Interaction. ed. / D. Boldrin; M. Cecconi; F. Cotecchia; A. Leung; G. Pedone; P. Perrini; E. Romero; V. Tagarelli; L. Zdravković. International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, 2025. 13 (Proceedings RootS; Vol. 2025).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › Academic › peer-review

TY - GEN

T1 - Root and fibre reinforcement impacts on pore dynamics and water storage capacity

AU - Anselmucci, F.

AU - Cheng, H.

AU - Alam, M.

AU - Das, A.

AU - Magnanimo, V.

N1 - Conference code: 3

PY - 2025/11/8

Y1 - 2025/11/8

N2 - The study aims to develop a predictive framework for water retention in reinforced sand under partially saturated conditions. We examine how intruders like crop roots and nylon fibres modify pore size distribution and water retention in sand. Three soil configurations, bare, root-reinforced, and fibre-reinforced, were tested in laboratory-scale samples under wetting-drying cycles. Soil water retention was monitored, and soil water retention curves were fitted using the Van Genuchten model. Pore size distribution changes were quantified via X-ray computed tomography at capillary, funicular, and pendular regimes. Rooted reinforced samples were analysed, after root growth stopped, to focus only on structural effects, and compared with fibre reinforced soil of equivalent intruder length density. Rooted reinforced soil has a water storage capacity of 15-20% more than fibre reinforced or bare soils, due to larger, interconnected pores, while fibre reinforced forms isolated smaller pores. Xray computed tomography shows pore size and connectivity changes linked to retention differences. These insights are used to validate a multiphase flow numerical model. The integrated framework will be adopted to develop a predictive model to manage drought-resilient soil.

AB - The study aims to develop a predictive framework for water retention in reinforced sand under partially saturated conditions. We examine how intruders like crop roots and nylon fibres modify pore size distribution and water retention in sand. Three soil configurations, bare, root-reinforced, and fibre-reinforced, were tested in laboratory-scale samples under wetting-drying cycles. Soil water retention was monitored, and soil water retention curves were fitted using the Van Genuchten model. Pore size distribution changes were quantified via X-ray computed tomography at capillary, funicular, and pendular regimes. Rooted reinforced samples were analysed, after root growth stopped, to focus only on structural effects, and compared with fibre reinforced soil of equivalent intruder length density. Rooted reinforced soil has a water storage capacity of 15-20% more than fibre reinforced or bare soils, due to larger, interconnected pores, while fibre reinforced forms isolated smaller pores. Xray computed tomography shows pore size and connectivity changes linked to retention differences. These insights are used to validate a multiphase flow numerical model. The integrated framework will be adopted to develop a predictive model to manage drought-resilient soil.

KW - Sand water retention capabilities

KW - Reinforced sand

KW - Experimental data

KW - X-ray computed tomography

KW - Discrete element modelling

U2 - 10.53243/RootS2025-13

DO - 10.53243/RootS2025-13

M3 - Conference contribution

T3 - Proceedings RootS

BT - Proceedings RootS25

A2 - Boldrin, D.

A2 - Cecconi, M.

A2 - Cotecchia, F.

A2 - Leung, A.

A2 - Pedone, G.

A2 - Perrini, P.

A2 - Romero, E.

A2 - Tagarelli, V.

A2 - Zdravković, L.

PB - International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering

T2 - 3rd International Workshop on Soil-Vegetation-Atmosphere Interaction, Roots 2025

Y2 - 6 November 2025 through 8 November 2025

ER -

Anselmucci F, Cheng H, Alam M, Das A, Magnanimo V. Root and fibre reinforcement impacts on pore dynamics and water storage capacity. In Boldrin D, Cecconi M, Cotecchia F, Leung A, Pedone G, Perrini P, Romero E, Tagarelli V, Zdravković L, editors, Proceedings RootS25 : 3rd International Workshop on Soil-Vegetation-Atmosphere Interaction. International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering. 2025. 13. (Proceedings RootS). doi: 10.53243/RootS2025-13

Root and fibre reinforcement impacts on pore dynamics and water storage capacity

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