Overhanging rock slope by design: An integrated approach using rock mass strength characterisation, large-scale numerical modelling and limit equilibrium methods
Overhanging rock slopes (steeper than 90°) are typically avoided in rock engineering design, particularly where the scale of the slope exceeds the scale of fracturing present in the rock mass. This paper highlights an integrated approach of designing overhanging rock slopes where the relative dimens...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2018-02-01
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| Series: | Journal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1674775517301269 |
| _version_ | 1828379637000962048 |
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| author | Paul Schlotfeldt Davide Elmo Brad Panton |
| author_facet | Paul Schlotfeldt Davide Elmo Brad Panton |
| author_sort | Paul Schlotfeldt |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Overhanging rock slopes (steeper than 90°) are typically avoided in rock engineering design, particularly where the scale of the slope exceeds the scale of fracturing present in the rock mass. This paper highlights an integrated approach of designing overhanging rock slopes where the relative dimensions of the slope exceed the scale of fracturing and the rock mass failure needs to be considered rather than kinematic release of individual blocks. The key to the method is a simplified limit equilibrium (LE) tool that was used for the support design and analysis of a multi-faceted overhanging rock slope. The overhanging slopes required complex geometries with constantly changing orientations. The overhanging rock varied in height from 30 m to 66 m. Geomechanical modelling combined with discrete fracture network (DFN) representation of the rock mass was used to validate the rock mass strength assumptions and the failure mechanism assumed in the LE model. The advantage of the simplified LE method is that buttress and support design iterations (along with sensitivity analysis of design parameters) can be completed for various cross-sections along the proposed overhanging rock sections in an efficient manner, compared to the more time-intensive, sophisticated methods that were used for the initial validation. The method described presents the development of this design tool and assumptions made for a specific overhanging rock slope design. Other locations will have different geological conditions that can control the potential behaviour of rock slopes, however, the approach presented can be applied as a general guiding design principle for overhanging rock cut slope. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T03:43:17Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9b0ff3dc092e48f78fd7bf7cc3d641d6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1674-7755 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T03:43:17Z |
| publishDate | 2018-02-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering |
| spelling | doaj.art-9b0ff3dc092e48f78fd7bf7cc3d641d62022-12-22T02:03:30ZengElsevierJournal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering1674-77552018-02-01101729010.1016/j.jrmge.2017.09.008Overhanging rock slope by design: An integrated approach using rock mass strength characterisation, large-scale numerical modelling and limit equilibrium methodsPaul Schlotfeldt0Davide Elmo1Brad Panton2Golder Associates Ltd., Vancouver, CanadaNBK Institute of Mining, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, CanadaNBK Institute of Mining, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, CanadaOverhanging rock slopes (steeper than 90°) are typically avoided in rock engineering design, particularly where the scale of the slope exceeds the scale of fracturing present in the rock mass. This paper highlights an integrated approach of designing overhanging rock slopes where the relative dimensions of the slope exceed the scale of fracturing and the rock mass failure needs to be considered rather than kinematic release of individual blocks. The key to the method is a simplified limit equilibrium (LE) tool that was used for the support design and analysis of a multi-faceted overhanging rock slope. The overhanging slopes required complex geometries with constantly changing orientations. The overhanging rock varied in height from 30 m to 66 m. Geomechanical modelling combined with discrete fracture network (DFN) representation of the rock mass was used to validate the rock mass strength assumptions and the failure mechanism assumed in the LE model. The advantage of the simplified LE method is that buttress and support design iterations (along with sensitivity analysis of design parameters) can be completed for various cross-sections along the proposed overhanging rock sections in an efficient manner, compared to the more time-intensive, sophisticated methods that were used for the initial validation. The method described presents the development of this design tool and assumptions made for a specific overhanging rock slope design. Other locations will have different geological conditions that can control the potential behaviour of rock slopes, however, the approach presented can be applied as a general guiding design principle for overhanging rock cut slope.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1674775517301269Rock slopesDiscrete fracture network (DFN)Rock mass strength characterisationNumerical modellingLimit equilibrium (LE) methods |
| spellingShingle | Paul Schlotfeldt Davide Elmo Brad Panton Overhanging rock slope by design: An integrated approach using rock mass strength characterisation, large-scale numerical modelling and limit equilibrium methods Journal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering Rock slopes Discrete fracture network (DFN) Rock mass strength characterisation Numerical modelling Limit equilibrium (LE) methods |
| title | Overhanging rock slope by design: An integrated approach using rock mass strength characterisation, large-scale numerical modelling and limit equilibrium methods |
| title_full | Overhanging rock slope by design: An integrated approach using rock mass strength characterisation, large-scale numerical modelling and limit equilibrium methods |
| title_fullStr | Overhanging rock slope by design: An integrated approach using rock mass strength characterisation, large-scale numerical modelling and limit equilibrium methods |
| title_full_unstemmed | Overhanging rock slope by design: An integrated approach using rock mass strength characterisation, large-scale numerical modelling and limit equilibrium methods |
| title_short | Overhanging rock slope by design: An integrated approach using rock mass strength characterisation, large-scale numerical modelling and limit equilibrium methods |
| title_sort | overhanging rock slope by design an integrated approach using rock mass strength characterisation large scale numerical modelling and limit equilibrium methods |
| topic | Rock slopes Discrete fracture network (DFN) Rock mass strength characterisation Numerical modelling Limit equilibrium (LE) methods |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1674775517301269 |
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