The Formation and Distribution of Stress Concentration Zones in Heterogeneous Rock Masses with Slopes

Abstract

The development of geological processes on the slopes is a consequence of changes in the stress state of rock masses. This work presents a study of stress redistribution. As an example, a high (up to 2 km) slope of the Greater Caucasus Range has been taken. To solve the problem a numerical simulation was used. One of the main factors that cause changes in the stressed state of rocks, composing the slope, is seismicity. Redistribution of stresses under the action of seismic forces was studied in static and dynamic settings. For a heterogeneous slope the static problem was solved using variation-difference method and the field of seismic forces was replaced by an equivalent field of static ones. The dynamic problem was solved using a finite element method while studying stress changes in the slope rocks as a result of propagation of seismic waves. There were obtained regularities in the formation of concentration zones of stress intensity and their movements, which is a result of interaction between propagating and reflected (from the slope surface) seismic waves, depending on the steepness of slopes and direction of wave propagation. Comparing the obtained values of stresses and strength characteristics of rocks, an assessment of the slope stability was carried out.