Abstract
The stratified rock of Jurassic strata is widely distributed in Three Gorges Reservoir Region. The limit equilibrium method is generally utilized in the stability analysis of rock slope with single failure plane. However, the stratified rock slope cannot be accurately estimated by this method because of different bedding planes and their variable shear strength parameters. Based on the idealized model of rock slope with bedding planes, a modified limiting equilibrium method is presented to determine the potential sliding surface and the factor of safety for the stratified rock slope. In this method, the S-curve model is established to define the spatial variations of the shear strength parameterscand φof bedding plane and the tensile strength of rock mass. This method was applied in the stability evaluation of typical stratified rock slope in Three Gorges Reservoir Region, China. The result shows that the factor of safety of the case study is 0.973, the critical sliding surface for the potential slip surface appears at bedding plane C, and the tension-controlled failure occurs at 10.5 m to the slope face.
Highlights
The analysis for the estimation of rock slope stability has been a challenging task for engineers in civil and mining engineering [1, 2]
Planar failure is one of the most common rock slope failure modes that happened in stratified rock masses [5,6,7]
The plane failure is one of the rock slope failure modes in field situations, and the limit equilibrium approach for the estimation of the factor of safety of the rock slope against plane failure has been well accepted by the engineers
Summary
The analysis for the estimation of rock slope stability has been a challenging task for engineers in civil and mining engineering [1, 2]. The stratified structure of a rock mass is typically acquired during sedimentary deposition, and planar structures such as foliation or schistosity can be produced by metamorphism. This process can cause differences in material composition, particle size, and fabric or mineral orientation that result in rock stratification [8, 9]. The dips and mechanical parameters of the bedding planes in naturally stratified rock masses have stronger influences on rock mass strength and stability. The sandstone crushing degree is controlled by the depth to slope surface, which severely influences the strength of rock mass and discontinuities
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