The behavior of root-soil system has raised more and more attention in both ecological and geotechnical fields. In this study, a two-dimensional discrete element method is employed using PFC2D to simulate the root-reinforced soil. The root system is mimicked by chains of bonded discs, while the soil is modeled by granular particles. The tensile strength of the root is modeled by interdiscs’ bonding strength. Three laboratory tests were studied to calibrate the micromechanical parameters of DEM. Finally, direct shear tests on rooted soil are simulated to investigate the influence of different root characteristics on the root reinforcement effect.

Very few studies have focused on diatomaceous earth slopes along high-speed railways, and the special properties of diatomaceous earth under alternating dry and wet conditions are unknown. This paper studies diatomaceous earth in the Shengzhou area, through which the newly built Hangzhou–Taizhou high-speed railway passes, and the basic physical and hydraulic properties of diatomaceous earth are analyzed by indoor test methods. A convenient, efficient, and controllable high-speed railway slope artificial rainfall simulation system is designed, and in situ comprehensive monitoring and fissure observation are performed on site to analyze the changes in various diatomaceous soil slope parameters under rainfall infiltration, and to explore the cracking mechanisms of diatomaceous earth under alternating dry and wet conditions. The results indicate extremely poor hydrophysical properties of diatomaceous earth in the Shengzhou area; the disintegration resistance index values of natural diatomaceous earth samples subjected to dry and wet cycles are 1.8–5.6%, and the disintegration is strong. Comprehensive indoor tests and water content monitoring show that natural diatomaceous earth has no obvious influence when it contacts water, but it disintegrates and cracks under alternating dry and wet conditions. The horizontal displacement of both slope types mainly occurs within 0.75–2.75 m of the surface layer, indicating shallow surface sliding; after testing, natural slope crack widths of diatomaceous earth reach 10–25 mm, and their depths reach 40–60 cm. To guarantee safety during high-speed railway engineering construction, implementing proper protection for diatomaceous earth slopes is recommended.

In this study, a new block‐type rail bearing beam is presented, which consists of a cast‐in‐place base and prefabricated blocks. The finite element analysis is conducted to assess the proposed new rail bearing beam structure. The performed finite element method (FEM) simulation focused on the dynamic stress at the bottom of the rail bearing beam and structural internal force and deformation under the case of train loading, etc. Besides, the relationship between first‐order natural frequency and activation frequency in the new support rail beam structure is analyzed and the beneficial effects on the internode connection structure are quantified. The results show that the increase in driving speed has the most significant effect on the vertical acceleration of the structure, and the self‐vibration frequency of the structure is relatively large, which means the structure is safe. Since previous research seldom focuses on this block‐type rail bearing beam, this study lays a valuable foundation for the construction of a rail bearing beam for the mid‐low‐speed maglev train.

Compared with traditional online shopping, consumer decision-making in social commerce is more susceptible to online word-of-mouth which can be published by people with weak relationship (stranger), moderate relationship (opinion leader), and strong relationship (friend). It's meaningful to study how word-of-mouth impacts consumer's purchase intention. In this paper, we designed an S1-S2 paradigm (reviewer review) using Event-Related Potentials(ERPs) technique to investigate this problem. On the basis of the given information (reviewer and review), participants had to decide whether to buy the product. The Late Positive Potential (LPP) component was successfully evoked and the order of LPP amplitudes from large to small was opinion leader-friendstranger. It indicates that participants consume more and more emotional processing resources in this order. The order of conformity rates from high to low was friend-opinion leaderstranger, inconsistent with the order of LPP amplitudes. It shows that emotional resources only play a part in decision-making process. The final decision made by the participants is more relevant to the degree of intimacy. Our findings suggest merchants that they can promote their products through opinion leaders to attract customers' attention and increase the proportion of friends' comments, thereby motivating consumers to make purchase decisions.