A novel slope stabilization technique was recently developed incorporating screw piles with vegetated flapped soilbags. These screw piles are subjected to lateral stress from soil slope and their deformation can be difficult to quantify, given the fluctuating pore-water pressure and heterogeneous soil conditions. This study proposes the use of in-situ spectral analysis of surface waves (SASW) test to estimate the small-strain soil stiffness which can then be factored to calculate the lateral deformation of the pile in finite element modelling based on prescribed pore-water pressure change. A case of bioengineered slope in Kanchanaburi province, Western Thailand was studied, involving field monitoring of pile head tilt, pore-water pressure, suction, and soil moisture over one year. The findings revealed pile head tilt of up to 0.2 degrees in response to rainfall and rise in pore-water pressure and soil moisture over one year period. A series of finite element modelling were performed using factored shear moduli from in-situ SASW test and the monitored pore-water pressure variation to reproduce the amount of pile head tilting as observed in the field during one year. It was revealed that by assuming operational shear modulus ranging between 0.0075 and 0.01 times small-strain soil stiffness, a satisfactory agreement was obtained between field measurement and analysis of pile movement. This findings provides a basis for further studies on performance of bioengineered slope utilizing screw piles. (c) 2025 Japanese Geotechnical Society. Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http:// creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

The practical application of micropiles in landslide reinforcement and prevention advanced before theoretical research, significantly limiting their application and promotion. To determine the damage patterns and stress distribution of micropiles during sliding failure in reinforced shallow landslides, three sets of physical modeling tests were performed. These tests examined the stability of shallow soil slopes with and without micropiles, including single-row and three-row configurations. During the tests, the foot displacement of the landslide, the top displacement of the micropiles, and the strain within the micropiles were monitored throughout the loading process. Following the tests, the landslide was excavated to observe the damage patterns in the micropiles. The experimental results showed that the pile-soil composite structure formed by three rows of micropiles, together with the soil between them, significantly improved the stability of the landslide and demonstrated effective anti-sliding effects. The stress distribution curve of the micropile was inversely S-shaped, with the peak stress located near the sliding surface. Within the micropile group, the first row exhibited the highest stress, and the micropiles nearest to the free face experienced the greatest displacement. Through the micropile-reinforced landslide tests, we identified three stages in the slope's sliding damage process and the stress distribution pattern of the micropiles. The research findings offer valuable insights into the anti-sliding mechanism of micropiles, which can guide design and construction.

Shallow slope instability poses a significant ecological threat, often leading to severe environmental degradation. While vegetation, particularly woody plants, is commonly employed in slope stabilization, herbaceous vegetation offers distinct and underexplored advantages. This paper reviews the role of herbaceous plants in enhancing slope stability, analyzing their mechanical and ecological mechanisms. Through an extensive review of the literature, this review challenges the prevailing view that woody vegetation is superior for slope stabilization, finding that herbaceous plants can be equally or more effective under certain conditions. The key findings include the identification of specific root parameters and species that contribute to soil reinforcement and erosion control. The review highlights the need for further research on optimizing plant species selection and management practices to maximize the slope stabilization effects. These insights have practical implications for ecological slope engineering, offering guidance on integrating herbaceous vegetation into sustainable land management strategies.