Comparison of Discrete element method and Finite element method of waste dump slope failure mechanism in Open Pit Mine

Abstract

This study determines the mechanical properties, such as cohesion and internal friction angle of the soil-rock mixture waste dump slope at different consolidation pressures of 400 KPa, 800 KPa, and 1600 KPa and analysed the deformation of the slope models. The stability of the slope was analysed by the discrete element method (DEM) PFC2D and the Limit equilibrium method GEO 5. The results show that the hazardous area is not only concentrated on the surface of the waste dump's slope but also in the consolidation pressure of the soil-rock mixture slope, which has the weakest consolidation strength, making it prone to sliding.