Stability Evaluation of Large Rock Slope including Remained Caves in Limestone Quarry.

Abstract

The stability evaluation of large rock slopes left after surface mining in limestone quarry has become to be most important engineering problem. In the mining engineer field, it is the very effective way for mining planner to simulate the final slope model using computer analysis in the first process. And, it is very important to propose the slope models from the several geological conditions and field observational measurements during mining operation in the next process. In this way, it becomes to be most important for mining engineer how to estimate the slope modelling, geological conditions and field measurements.In the final mining plan at Yoshii Limestone Quarry (located in border of Hiroshima pref. and Okayama pref.), there will appear in near future large rock slope having two different caves which remained after past underground stopping. In such case, we have to consider the three-dimensional influences between two caves and slope. This paper describes the investigation on the rock slope stability of Yoshii Quarry using 3-D B.E.M.(three dimensional boundary element method). And, it describes the critical block on the slope by the geometrical conditions of discontinuous planes using the block theory.