Ecological membrane for slope engineering based on red bed soil.

Ecological slope protection projects (such as the reinforcement of low slopes by plants and ecological restorations of the soil of high steep rocky slopes) are essential for restoring the natural environment. In this study, red bed soil and composite polymer adhesive materials were used to develop an ecological membrane for application in slope ecological protection. The basic physical and mechanical properties of the ecological membranes with different material percentages were studied through tensile strength test and viscosity test, the effect of different material percentages on the properties of ecological membranes was studied, and the soil protection performance and ecological restoration performance were studied through anti-erosion and plant growth tests. The results show that the ecological membrane is soft and tough, with high tensile strength. The addition of the red bed soil can enhance the strength of the ecological membrane, and the ecological membrane with 30% red bed soil has the highest tensile strength. The ecological membrane has considerable tensile deformation capability and viscosity, and up to 100% by mass, the more composite polymer adhesive materials added, the greater the tensile deformation capability and viscosity. And the ecological membrane can enhance the anti-erosion performance of the soil. This study clarifies the development and technology of the ecological membrane, reveals the effect of different material percentages on the properties of ecological membrane, and analyzes the slope ecological protection mechanism of the ecological membrane, thereby providing theoretical and data support for its development, improvement, and application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of PLoS ONE is the property of Public Library of Science and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)