Abstract
Under certain conditions, rock blocks “removable” at a free surface but safe against translational (falling or sliding) failure may fail in rotation. This paper examines: (1) the kinematic constraints on rotation of tetrahedral blocks; and (2) rotational stability under gravity. The results are presented graphically, using the full-sphere stereographic projection, in keeping with ideas and notation developed by Goodman and Shi. A rotational stability diagram for varying orientations of gravity is presented. If friction angles are known the sphere can be subdivided (with some grey areas) into failure mode zones corresponding to lifting, sliding on one or two planes, pure rotation or sliding-rotation.
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