scholarly journals Psuedo static stability analysis of rock slope using patton’s shear criterion

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Subhadeep Metya ◽  
Neeraj Chaudhary ◽  
Keshav Kumar Sharma

AbstractA deterministic model for the factor of safety of an idealized rock mass for planar mode of failure is developed adopting Limit Equilibrium Method (LEM) using Patton’s shear strength criterion and considering practically occurring conditions such as the effect of tension crack, water filled up in tension crack, horizontal and vertical seismic acceleration, rock bolt stabilizing force and surcharge. In the Pseudo-static analysis horizontal seismic acceleration is taken outward from the slope and vertical seismic acceleration is considered in both the direction i.e. towards the direction of gravity (downward) and opposite to the direction of gravity (upward). An expression of normal stresses as limiting criterion has been derived in order to compare the field normal stresses along the failure surface. A detailed parametric study has been presented to investigate the influence of vertical seismic coefficient for both the direction on the stability of rock slope using developed expression. For high normal stress along the failure plane, it is observed that the factor of safety decreases with increase in the value of vertical seismic coefficient towards the direction of gravity and increases linearly with increase in the value of vertical seismic coefficient against the direction of gravity and the opposite trend has been found for lower normal stress. The vertical seismic coefficient against the direction of gravity has predominant effect on factor of safety of rock slope as the rate of increase/decrease of factor of safety with vertical seismic coefficient is more against the direction of gravity. Hence in determining the critical factor of safety, effect of vertical seismic coefficient against the direction of gravity should be considered.

2018 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 3333-3353 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philipp Mamot ◽  
Samuel Weber ◽  
Tanja Schröder ◽  
Michael Krautblatter

Abstract. Instability and failure of high mountain rock slopes have significantly increased since the 1990s coincident with climatic warming and are expected to rise further. Most of the observed failures in permafrost-affected rock walls are likely triggered by the mechanical destabilisation of warming bedrock permafrost including ice-filled joints. The failure of ice-filled rock joints has only been observed in a small number of experiments, often using concrete as a rock analogue. Here, we present a systematic study of the brittle shear failure of ice and rock–ice interfaces, simulating the accelerating phase of rock slope failure. For this, we performed 141 shearing experiments with rock–ice–rock “sandwich”' samples at constant strain rates (10−3 s−1) provoking ice fracturing, under normal stress conditions ranging from 100 to 800 kPa, representing 4–30 m of rock overburden, and at temperatures from −10 to −0.5 ∘C, typical for recent observed rock slope failures in alpine permafrost. To create close to natural but reproducible conditions, limestone sample surfaces were ground to international rock mechanical standard roughness. Acoustic emission (AE) was successfully applied to describe the fracturing behaviour, anticipating rock–ice failure as all failures are predated by an AE hit increase with peaks immediately prior to failure. We demonstrate that both the warming and unloading (i.e. reduced overburden) of ice-filled rock joints lead to a significant drop in shear resistance. With a temperature increase from −10 to −0.5 ∘C, the shear stress at failure reduces by 64 %–78 % for normal stresses of 100–400 kPa. At a given temperature, the shear resistance of rock–ice interfaces decreases with decreasing normal stress. This can lead to a self-enforced rock slope failure propagation: as soon as a first slab has detached, further slabs become unstable through progressive thermal propagation and possibly even faster by unloading. Here, we introduce a new Mohr–Coulomb failure criterion for ice-filled rock joints that is valid for joint surfaces, which we assume similar for all rock types, and which applies to temperatures from −8 to −0.5 ∘C and normal stresses from 100 to 400 kPa. It contains temperature-dependent friction and cohesion, which decrease by 12 % ∘C−1 and 10 % ∘C−1 respectively due to warming and it applies to temperature and stress conditions of more than 90 % of the recently documented accelerating failure phases in permafrost rock walls.


1992 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 53-60 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruce J. Carter ◽  
Emery Z. Lajtai

A deterministic (GEOSLIDE) and a probabilistic (PROSLIDE) microcomputer code are introduced to aid in performing rock wedge analyses based on the limit equilibrium method. The deterministic code evaluates the stability of a single rock wedge formed by discontinuities in rock through three-dimensional vector algebra, GEOSLIDE undertakes a full kinematic analysis (daylighting and obstruction), analyzes both wedge and plane sliding, and provides for anchor designs and sensitivity analyses (cohesion, friction, and water forces). Through multiple stability analyses, PROSLIDE evaluates the probability of failure for a rock slope by examining the distribution of the factors of safety from all the potential sliding wedges formed by the discontinuities of the rock mass. The probability of failure is expressed as the ratio of kinematically free wedges that have a factor of safety less than unity to the total number of wedges, PROSLIDE can form and analyze as many as 2000 different pairs of discontinuities in less than 30 min using a 25 MHz 486 IBM-compatible computer. In a worked example, the probability of failure for a fixed slope strike and loading condition is shown to vary with the slope angle, following the characteristic 'S' shape of a cumulative distribution function. The effect of an anchor force is to spread the distribution over a wider range of the factor of safety (SF), pushing many wedges into a potential upslide situation and splitting the distribution about the failure zone of the stability diagram (−1 < SF < 1). Key words : rock slope, rock wedge, stability analysis, factor of safety, probability of failure, Monte Carlo simulation.


2005 ◽  
Vol 42 (5) ◽  
pp. 1342-1349 ◽  
Author(s):  
D Y Zhu ◽  
C F Lee ◽  
D H Chan ◽  
H D Jiang

The conventional methods of slices are commonly used for the analysis of slope stability. When anchor loads are involved, they are often treated as point loads, which may lead to abrupt changes in the normal stress distribution on the potential slip surface. As such abrupt changes are not reasonable and do not reflect reality in the field, an alternative approach based on the limit equilibrium principle is proposed for the evaluation of the stability of anchor-reinforced slopes. With this approach, the normal stress distribution over the slip surface before the application of the anchor (i.e., σ0) is computed by the conventional, rigorous methods of slices, and the normal stress on the slip surface purely induced by the anchor load (i.e., λpσp, where λp is the load factor) is taken as the analytical elastic stress distribution in an infinite wedge approximating the slope geometry, with the anchor load acting on the apex. Then the normal stress on the slip surface for the anchor-reinforced slope is assumed to be the linear combination of these two normal stresses involving two auxiliary unknowns, η1 and η2; that is, σ = η1σ0 + η2λpσp. Simultaneously solving the horizontal force, the vertical force, and the moment equilibrium equations for the sliding body leads to the explicit expression for the factor of safety (Fs)—or the load factor (λp), if the required factor of safety is prescribed. The reasonableness and advantages of the present method in comparison with the conventional procedures are demonstrated with two illustrative examples. The proposed procedure can be readily applied to designs of excavated slopes or remediation of landslides with steel anchors or prestressed cables, as well as with soil nails or geotextile reinforcements.Key words: slopes, factor of safety, anchors, limit equilibrium method.


Author(s):  
Henki Ødegaard ◽  
Bjørn Nilsen

AbstractTo avoid hydraulic failure of unlined pressure tunnels, knowledge of minimum principal stress is needed. Such knowledge is only obtainable from in situ measurements, which are often time-consuming and relatively costly, effectively limiting the number of measurements typically performed. In an effort to enable more stress measurements, the authors propose a simplified and cost-effective stress measuring method; the Rapid Step-Rate Test (RSRT), which is based on existing hydraulic testing methods. To investigate the ability of this test to measure fracture normal stresses in field-like conditions, a true triaxial laboratory test rig has been developed. Hydraulic jacking experiments performed on four granite specimens, each containing a fracture, have been performed. Interpretation of pressure-, flow- and acoustic emission (AE) data has been used to interpret fracture behaviour and to assess fracture normal stresses. Our experimental data suggest that the proposed test method, to a satisfactory degree of reliability, can measure the magnitude of fracture normal stress. In addition, a clear correlation has been found between fracture closure and sudden increase in AE rate, suggesting that AE monitoring during testing can serve as a useful addition to the test. The rapid step-rate test is also considered relevant for field-scale measurements, with only minor adaptions. Our findings suggest that the RSRT can represent a way to get closer to the ideal of performing more testing along the entire length of pressure tunnel, and not only at key locations, which requires interpolation of stress data with varying degree of validity.


2021 ◽  
Vol 80 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
Linxuan Zhu ◽  
Zhijun Zhou ◽  
Lei Chen ◽  
Tianyu Xu ◽  
Zhipeng Zhang ◽  
...  

2010 ◽  
Vol 47 (10) ◽  
pp. 1112-1126 ◽  
Author(s):  
Md. Akhtar Hossain ◽  
Jian-Hua Yin

Shear strength and dilative characteristics of a re-compacted completely decomposed granite (CDG) soil are studied by performing a series of single-stage consolidated drained direct shear tests under different matric suctions and net normal stresses. The axis-translation technique is applied to control the pore-water and pore-air pressures. A soil-water retention curve (SWRC) is obtained for the CDG soil from the equilibrium water content corresponding to each applied matric suction value for zero net normal stress using a modified direct shear apparatus. Shear strength increases with matric suction and net normal stress, and the failure envelope is observed to be linear. The apparent angle of internal friction and cohesion intercept increase with matric suction. A greater dilation angle is found at higher suctions with lower net normal stresses, while lower or zero dilation angles are observed under higher net normal stresses with lower suctions, also at a saturated condition. Experimental shear strength data are compared with the analytical shear strength results obtained from a previously modified model considering the SWRC, effective shear strength parameters, and analytical dilation angles. The experimental shear strength data are slightly higher than the analytical results under higher net normal stresses in a higher suction range.


1992 ◽  
Vol 29 (6) ◽  
pp. 971-988 ◽  
Author(s):  
Z. Chen ◽  
N. R. Morgenstern ◽  
D. H. Chan

The mechanism of progressive failure is well understood as one which involves nonuniform straining of a strain-weakening material. Traditional limit equilibrium analysis cannot be used alone to obtain a rational solution for progressive failure problems because the deformation of the structure must be taken into account in the analysis. The failure of the Carsington Dam during construction in 1984 has been attributed to progressive failure of the underlying yellow clay and the dam core materials. The dam was monitored extensively prior to failure, and an elaborate geotechnical investigation was undertaken after failure. The limit equilibrium analysis indicated that the factors of safety were over 1.4 using peak strength of intact clay material or 1.2 based on reduced strength accounting for preshearing of the yellow clay layer. Factors of safety were found to be less than unity if residual strengths were used. The actual factor of safety at failure was, of course, equal to one. By using the finite element analysis with strain-weakening models, the extent and degree of weakening along the potential slip surface were calculated. The calculated shear strength was then used in the limit equilibrium analysis, and the factor of safety was found to be 1.05, which is very close to the actual value of 1.0. More importantly, the mechanism of failure and the initiation and propagation of the shear zones were captured in the finite element analysis. It was also found that accounting explicitly for pore-water pressure effects using the effective stress approach in the finite element and limit equilibrium analyses provides more realistic simulations of the failure process of the structure than analyses based on total stresses. Key words : progressive failure, strain softening, finite element analysis, dams.


1990 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 145-151 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. N. Chowdhury ◽  
S. Zhang

This note is concerned with the multiplicity of solutions for the factor of safety that may be obtained on the basis of the method of slices. Discontinuities in the function for the factor of safety are discussed and the reasons for false convergence in any iterative solution process are explored, with particular reference to the well-known Bishop simplified method (circular slip surfaces) and Janbu simplified or generalized method (slip surfaces of arbitrary shape). The note emphasizes that both the solution method and the method of searching for the critical slip surface must be considered in assessing the potential for numerical difficulties and false convergence. Direct search methods for optimization (e.g., the simplex reflection method) appear to be superior to the grid search or repeated trial methods in this respect. To avoid false convergence, the initially assumed value of factor of safety F0 should be greater than β1(=−tan α1 tan [Formula: see text]) where α1 and [Formula: see text] are respectively the base inclination and internal friction angle of the first slice near the toe of a slope, the slice with the largest negative reverse inclination. A value of F0 = 1 + β1, is recommended on the basis of experience. If there is no slice with a negative slope for any of the slip surfaces generated in the automatic, search process, then any positive value of F0 will lead to true convergence for F. It is necessary to emphasize that no slip surface needs to be rejected for computational reasons except for Sarma's methods and similarly no artificial changes need to be made to the value of [Formula: see text] except for Sarma's methods. Key words: slope stability, convergence, limit equilibrium, analysis, optimization, slip surfaces, geological discontinuity, simplex reflection technique.


2005 ◽  
Vol 42 (1) ◽  
pp. 263-271 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deepankar Choudhury ◽  
K S Subba Rao

Uplift capacities of inclined strip anchors in soil with a horizontal ground surface are obtained under seismic conditions. Limit equilibrium approaches with a logarithm-spiral failure surface and pseudostatic seismic forces are adopted in the analysis. The results are presented in the form of seismic uplift capacity factors as functions of anchor inclination, embedment ratio, angle of internal friction of the soil, and horizontal and vertical seismic acceleration coefficients. The uplift capacity factors are worked out separately for cohesion, surcharge, and density components. Use of the principle of superposition for calculating anchor uplift capacity is validated. The vertical seismic acceleration coefficient always reduces the uplift capacity, whereas the horizontal seismic acceleration coefficient reduces the uplift capacity in most cases. The roles of anchor embedment ratio, soil friction angle, and anchor inclination in determination of the seismic uplift capacity are also discussed. Comparisons of the proposed method with available theories in the seismic case are also presented. The present study gives the minimum seismic uplift capacity factors compared with the existing theory.Key words: seismic uplift capacity factors, inclined strip anchors, limit equilibrium, pseudostatic, c–ϕ soil.


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