ABSTRACT
Following a comprehensive field investigation to develop an effective slope protection technique in cold regions, it was found that a native dwarf bamboo (Sasa nipponica) has two effective functions to prevent a slope from damages such as sliding of surface layer and erosion: as thermal insulator to decrease the frost penetration depth and the frost heave amount, and to considerably increase the stability of a slope covered with the bamboo. Further, the modified protective grids were found to be effective to prevent the frost heave damages of grids that keep the planting ground on the slope stable. Based on our findings, we proposed an improved slope protection technique in which a native dwarf bamboo was used as a ground cover protected by a new type of grids, and used it on the slope along the highway in the cold region.
