Assessing the Stability of Dip Slopes Based on Analyzing the Stress at a Key Point on the Sliding Surface
Publication: International Journal of Geomechanics
Volume 22, Issue 9
Abstract
Dip slopes are often encountered in deep-cut canyons and engineering projects. Such slopes, when they become unstable, commonly undergo bi-planar failure, and this mode of failure tends to produce the widest-ranging effects. In this work, a novel method is proposed for assessing the potential of a slope to undergo bi-planar failure based on a stress analysis at a key point on the sliding surface, namely, the point at which the two sections of the sliding surface are connected. Discrete-element simulations are first carried out to capture the essence of the penetration process of the bi-planar sliding surface based on displacement results, plastic failure, and principal stress development. Then, the key point on the sliding surface is skillfully selected according to the sliding surface penetration process, and the characteristics of the stress changes leading to slope failure are investigated using the stress analysis method. Subsequently, considering the stress states of this key point both in the overlying rock strata and in the intact rock at the toe of the slope, a novel method is proposed for assessing the stability of the dip slope and predicting the bi-planar failure surface formed. The stability of dip slopes was subsequently analyzed using both numerical and theoretical methods. The results obtained are highly consistent, confirming the feasibility and accuracy of the proposed method. The results also show that the bi-planar failure process is progressive and that the range of the failure is mainly located in the stress reduction zone. Moreover, the critical height of the dip slope remains approximately unchanged as the stratum thickness is changed. However, it decreases as the slope angle increases and increases linearly if the strength of either the rock or joints is increased. Additionally, if the joint strength is low, the dip slope undergoes buckling failure—increasing the joint strength, however, increases the likelihood of the occurrence of bi-planar failure. The proposed method offers a novel approach to assessing and designing dip slopes.
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Acknowledgments
This work was financed using funds provided by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 12102443 and 12072358) and the Natural Science Foundation of Hubei Province, China (Grant No. 2021CFB226). The authors also thank the anonymous reviewers and editors for their constructive suggestions that have greatly improved the quality of this manuscript.
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Published In
International Journal of Geomechanics
Volume 22 • Issue 9 • September 2022
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© 2022 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Feb 28, 2022
Accepted: May 14, 2022
Published online: Jul 7, 2022
Published in print: Sep 1, 2022
Discussion open until: Dec 7, 2022
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