Numerical Study on Stability of Rock Slope Based on Energy Method

Wei Gao,Xu Wang,Shuang Dai,Dongliang Chen

doi:10.1155/2016/2030238

Wei Gao, Xu Wang + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1155/2016/2030238

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Abstract

To solve the main shortcoming of numerical method for analysis of the stability of rock slope, such as the selection the convergence condition for the strength reduction method, one method based on the minimum energy dissipation rate is proposed. In the new method, the basic principle of fractured rock slope failure, that is, the process of the propagation and coalescence for cracks in rock slope, is considered. Through analysis of one mining rock slope in western China, this new method is verified and compared with the generally used strength reduction method. The results show that the new method based on the minimum energy dissipation rate can be used to analyze the stability of the fractured rock slope and its result is very good. Moreover, the new method can obtain less safety factor for the rock slope than those by other methods. Therefore, the new method based on the minimum energy dissipation rate is a good method to analyze the stability of the fractured rock slope and should be superior to other generally used methods.

Highlights

The rock slopes can be found in many engineering applications, such as highways and constructions in mountainous area, open pit mines, and hydropower projects
In the studies of Liu et al [6], a new approach for determining the safety factor and the corresponding critical slip surface of a layered rock slope subjected to seismic excitations is presented, through a case study based on the combination of the strength reduction technique and distinct element method. According to this proposed method, the seismic safety factor and the critical slip surface of the slope are estimated and compared with those obtained by the pseudostatic approach, combined with the limit equilibrium method
The comparison concerns the application of the limit equilibrium method, the block element method, and the finite element method on the stability analysis of two hydropower engineering projects in China

Summary

Introduction

The rock slopes can be found in many engineering applications, such as highways and constructions in mountainous area, open pit mines, and hydropower projects. In the studies of Liu et al [6], a new approach for determining the safety factor and the corresponding critical slip surface of a layered rock slope subjected to seismic excitations is presented, through a case study based on the combination of the strength reduction technique and distinct element method According to this proposed method, the seismic safety factor and the critical slip surface of the slope are estimated and compared with those obtained by the pseudostatic approach, combined with the limit equilibrium method. The comparison concerns the application of the limit equilibrium method, the block element method, and the finite element method on the stability analysis of two hydropower engineering projects in China In those numerical studies, the strength reduction method is used. One rock slope example is used to verify the proposed method

Strength Reduction Method Based on Minimum Energy Dissipation Rate

Engineering Example

Conclusions