Failure of Rock Slopes with Intermittent Joints: Failure Process and Stability Calculation Models

Abstract

Rock slopes with intermittent joints in open-pit mines are complex geological bodies composed of intact rock and discontinuous structural planes, and their stability analysis are necessary for mine disaster prevention. In this study, a series of base friction tests were performed to determine the failure process and displacement field evolution of rock slopes with intermittent joints using the speckle technique of a noncontact measurement system. Next, stability calculation models of the slopes were established from the energy perspective using the plastic limit analysis theory, and the effects of the joint inclination angle and coalescence coefficient of rock bridges on the slope stability were evaluated. The four main conclusions are as follows: (1) The failure of rock slopes with intermittent joints shows the feature of collapse-lower traction-upper push. (2) Based on the failure modes of rock bridges in slopes, the failure of rock slopes with intermittent joints could be divided into three types: tensile coalescence (type A), shear coalescence (type B), and tensile–shear coalescence (type C). (3) Among the three slope types, the stability of the type A slope is significantly influenced by rock cohesion, whereas that of the type B slope is significantly influenced by joint cohesion. The stability of type C slope is significantly influenced by the joint inclination angle and joint friction angle. (4) The local-stable slope is unstable while the first through-tensile crack in the zone of the potential sliding body higher than the critical instability height appeared. This study guides the stability evaluation and instability prediction of jointed rock slopes in open-pit mines.

Insight into the Evolutionary Mechanism of the Rear Fissure of Landslides That Conform to the Three-Section Mechanism

“…Therefore, determined by the advantages of low cost, ease of control, and solid theory, it has become one of the most commonly used methods for gravity simulation in the laboratory [20,21]. Combining a noncontact measurement system with its advantages of quick and undisturbed operation [22], the deformation-failure process associated with displacement/strain field evolution [23] can be validly analyzed by measured point tracking [24] for rocky slopes with locking sections [25].…”

Seismic response analysis of jointed rock slope under pulse-like ground motions

“…deformation and instability mechanism of slope(Song et al, 2020;Song et al, 2021) Zhou et al (2022). conducted a series of foundation friction tests for rock slopes with intermittent joints in open-pit mines, studied the ground failure process and displacement evolution law of rock slopes with intermittent joints, and put forward a slope stability evaluation model from the perspective of energy Feng et al (2022).…”