Limit-Equilibrium Analysis of Stability of Footwall Slope with Respect to Biplanar Failure
Publication: International Journal of Geomechanics
Volume 20, Issue 1
Abstract
Biplanar failure is the most common instability type of footwall slopes, with a steeply dipping joint (typically the bedding plane) and a gently dipping joint (i.e., the daylighting toe joint) forming the basic failure surface. Limit equilibrium, due to its high efficiency and accuracy, is a widespread method in the analysis of such a failure. In this paper, a new block model of biplanar failure is first proposed on the basis of the interaction mechanisms between the active and passive blocks. Then, considering the orientation of the interblock boundary, a biplanar failure analysis method (BFAM) is presented that satisfies both the force and moment equilibrium conditions. Subsequently, a simplified biplanar failure analysis method (SBFAM) is also proposed for ease of use. Finally, parametric analysis was carried out to investigate the influence of the sliding mass depth, slope height, dip angles, and shear strength of the joints on slope stability. It was found that the safety factors of the footwall slope obtained using the BFAM approach are generally consistent with those found using the Morgenstern-Price and Spencer methods. Additionally, the safety factors using the SBFAM approach are well consistent with the physical modeling and BFAM results.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Acknowledgments
We would like to acknowledge the valuable comments and suggestions made by the editor and reviewers. This paper was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 11602284 and 11472293) and Natural Science Foundation of Hubei Province (Grant No. 2018CFB450).
References
Alejano, L. R., A. M. Ferrero, P. Ramírez-Oyanguren, and M. I. Álvarez Fernández. 2011. “Comparison of limit-equilibrium, numerical and physical models of wall slope stability.” Int. J. Rock Mech. Min. Sci. 48 (1): 16–26. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrmms.2010.06.013.
Bahaaddini, M., P. Hagan, R. Mitra, and B. K. Hebblewhite. 2016. “Numerical study of the mechanical behavior of nonpersistent jointed rock masses.” Int. J. Geomech. 16 (1): 04015035. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GM.1943-5622.0000510.
Chen, C., and Z. Peng. 1996. “The optimical reliability analysis of slope existing decisive joints in double-block failure pattern.” [In Chinese.] J. Cent. South Univ. Technol. 27 (4): 387–391.
Chen, C. X., Z. D. Lu, Y. Zheng, and C. Y. Sun. 2017. Report on the stability evaluation of Shenda granite mine slope. [In Chinese.] Wuhan, China: Institute of Rock and Soil Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Chen, X. L., R. X. Gao, W. H. Gong, Y. Li, and J. W. Qiu. 2018. “Random seismic response and dynamic fuzzy reliability analysis of bedding rock slopes based on pseudoexcitation method.” Int. J. Geomech. 18 (3): 04017165. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GM.1943-5622.0001084.
Chen, Z. Y. 2007. “The limit analysis in soil and rock: A mature discipline of geomechanics.” J. Zhejiang Univ. 8 (11): 1712–1724. https://doi.org/10.1631/jzus.2007.A1712.
Deng, D. P., L. H. Zhao, and L. Li. 2016. “Limit equilibrium method for slope stability based on assumed stress on slip surface.” J. Cent. South Univ. 23 (11): 2972–2983. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11771-016-3361-0.
Deng, D. P., L. H. Zhao, and L. Li. 2017. “Limit equilibrium analysis for rock slope stability using basic Hoek–Brown strength criterion.” J. Cent. South Univ. 24 (9): 2154–2163. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11771-017-3624-4.
Duncan, J. M. 1996. “State of the art: Limit equilibrium and finite-element analysis of slopes.” J. Geotech. Eng. 123 (9): 577–596. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9410(1996)122:7(577).
Eberhardt, E., K. Thuro, and M. Luginbuehl. 2005. “Slope instability mechanisms in dipping interbedded conglomerates and weathered marls—The 1999 Rufi landslide, Switzerland.” Eng. Geol. 77 (1–2): 35–56. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2004.08.004.
Fisher, B. R. 2009. “Improved characterization and analysis of bi-planar dip slope failures to limit model and parameter uncertainty in the determination of setback distances.” Ph.D. thesis, The Faculty of Graduate Studies, Univ. of British Columbia.
Fisher, B. R., and E. Eberhardt. 2007. “Dip slope analysis and parameter uncertainty, a case history and practical recommendations.” In Rock mechanics: Meeting society’s challenges and demands, edited by E. Eberhardt, D. Stead, and T. Morrison, 871–878. Boca Raton, FL: Taylor & Francis.
Gong, B., and C. A. Tang. 2017. “Slope-slide simulation with discontinuous deformation and displacement analysis.” Int. J. Geomech. 17 (5): E4016017. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GM.1943-5622.0000746.
Havaej, M., D. Stead, E. Eberhardt, and B. R. Fisher. 2014. “Characterization of bi-planar and ploughing failure mechanisms in footwall slopes using numerical modelling.” Eng. Geol. 178 (16): 109–120. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2014.06.003.
Huang, R. 2007. “Large-scale landslides and their sliding mechanisms in China since the 20th century.” [In Chinese.] Chin. J. Rock Mech. Eng. 26 (3): 433–454.
Kvapil, R., and M. Clews. 1979. “An examination of the Prandtl mechanism in large dimension slope failures.” Trans. Inst. Min. Metall. A 88: A1–A5.
Liu, X., Q. Liu, Y. Kang, and Y. Pan. 2018. “Improved nonlinear strength criterion for jointed rock masses subject to complex stress states.” Int. J. Geomech. 18 (3): 04017164. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GM.1943-5622.0001072.
Meng, F., L. N. Y. Wong, H. Zhou, J. Yu, and G. Cheng. 2019. “Shear rate effects on the post-peak shear behaviour and acoustic emission characteristics of artificially split granite joints.” Rock Mech. Rock Eng. 52 (7): 2155–2174. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-018-1722-8.
Morgenstern, N. R., and V. E. Price. 1965. “The analysis of the stability of general slip surfaces.” Geotechnique 15 (1): 79–93. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.1965.15.1.79.
Muralha, J., G. Grasselli, B. Tatone, M. Blümel, P. Chryssanthakis, and J. Yujing. 2014. “ISRM suggested method for laboratory determination of the shear strength of rock joints: Revised version.” Rock Mech. Rock Eng. 47 (1): 291–302. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-013-0519-z.
Oettle, N. K., and J. D. Bray. 2017. “Numerical procedures for simulating earthquake fault rupture propagation.” Int. J. Geomech. 17 (1): 04016025. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GM.1943-5622.0000661.
Rocscience. 2004. Rocscience software products: Dips, Slide, Phase2. Toronto: Rocscience.
Sarma, S. K. 1973. “Stability analysis of embankments and slopes.” Geotechnique 23 (3): 423–433. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.1973.23.3.423.
Siad, L., and M. Megueddem. 1998. “Stability analysis of jointed rock slope.” Mech. Res. Commun. 25 (6): 661–670. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0093-6413(98)00085-8.
Spencer, E. 1967. “A method of analysis of the stability of embankments assuming parallel inter-slice forces.” Geotechnique 17 (1): 11–26. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.1967.17.1.11.
Stead, D., and E. Eberhardt. 1997. “Developments in the analysis of footwall slopes in surface coal mining.” Eng. Geol. 46 (1): 41–61. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0013-7952(96)00084-1.
Stead, D., E. Eberhardt, and J. S. Coggan. 2006. “Developments in the characterization of complex rock slope deformation and failure using numerical modelling techniques.” Eng. Geol. 83 (1): 217–235. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2005.06.033.
Yan, C., and Y. Y. Jiao. 2018. “FDEM-TH3D: A three-dimensional coupled hydrothermal model for fractured rock.” Int. J. Numer. Anal. Methods Geomech. 43 (1): 415–440. https://doi.org/10.1002/nag.2869.
Yan, C., Y. Y. Jiao, and S. Yang. 2019. “A 2D coupled hydro-thermal model for the combined finite-discrete element method.” Acta Geotech. 14 (2): 403–416. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11440-018-0653-6.
Yin, Y., P. Sun, M. Zhang, and B. Li. 2011. “Mechanism on apparent dip sliding of oblique inclined bedding rockslide at Jiweishan, Chongqing, China.” Landslides 8 (1): 49–65. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10346-010-0237-5.
Zheng, H., C. B. Zhou, and D. Liu. 2009. “A robust solution procedure for the rigorous methods of slices.” Soils Found. 49 (4): 537–543. https://doi.org/10.3208/sandf.49.537.
Zheng, J., P. H. S. W. Kulatilake, and B. Shu. 2017. “Improved probabilistic kinematic analysis procedure based on finite size discontinuities and its application to a rock slope at open pit mine in US.” Int. J. Geomech. 17 (2): 04016052. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GM.1943-5622.0000721.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Copyright
©2019 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Oct 26, 2018
Accepted: May 1, 2019
Published online: Oct 19, 2019
Published in print: Jan 1, 2020
Discussion open until: Mar 19, 2020
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.