Analysis of Critical Excavation Depth for a Jointed Rock Slope Using a Face-to-Face Discrete Element Method

Summary The critical excavation depth of a jointed rock slope is an important problem in rock engineering. This paper studies the critical excavation depth for two idealized jointed rock slopes by employing a face-to-face discrete element method (DEM). The DEM is based on the discontinuity analysis which can consider anisotropic and discontinuous deformations due to joints and their orientations. It uses four lump-points at each surface of rock blocks to describe their interactions. The relationship between the critical excavation depth D _s and the natural slope angle α, the joint inclination angle θ as well as the strength parameters of the joints c _r ,φ _r is analyzed, and the critical excavation depth obtained with this DEM and the limit equilibrium method (LEM) is compared. Furthermore, effects of joints on the failure modes are compared between DEM simulations and experimental observations. It is found that the DEM predicts a lower critical excavation depth than the LEM if the joint structures in the rock mass are not ignored.     

The Shear Behavior of Bedding Planes of Weakness Between Two Different Rock Types with High Strength Difference

In this article, the shear behavior of discontinuities caused by bedding planes of weakness between two different rock types with high strength difference is investigated. The effect of roughness and compressive strength of joint wall in such discontinuities are studied. The designed profiles consist of two regular and three irregular artificial joints molded by three types of plaster mortars with different uniaxial compressive strengths. Firstly, it is demonstrated that the shear behavior of discontinuities with different joint wall compressive strengths (JCS) is different from rock joints with identical wall compressive strengths by showing that Barton’s empirical criterion is not appropriate for the former discontinuities. After that, some correlation equations are proposed between the joint roughness coefficient (JRC) parameter and some surface statistical/fractal parameters, and the normal stress range of Barton’s strength criterion is also modified to be used for such discontinuities. Then, a new empirical criterion is proposed for these discontinuities in such a way that a rational function is used instead of JRC log₁₀(JCS/σ _n) as i ₀(σ _c/σ _n)^a/[b + (σ _c/σ _n) ^a ] by satisfying the peak dilation angle boundary conditions under zero and very high normal stress (physical infinite normal stress causing zero peak dilation angle). The proposed criterion has three surface parameters: i ₀, a, and b. The reason for separation of i ₀ from JRC is indicated and the method of its calculation is mentioned based on the literature. The two remaining coefficients (a and b) are discussed in detail and it is shown that a shows a power-law relationship with b, introducing the coefficient c through b = c ^a . Then, it is expressed that a is directly related to discontinuity surface topography. Finally, it is shown that the coefficient c has higher values in irregular profiles in comparison with regular profiles and is dominated by intensity of peak dilation angle reduction (majorly related to the surface irregularity and minorly related to roughness). The coefficient c is to be determined by performing regression analysis on experimental data.     

Influence of rock property correlation on reliability analysis of rock slope stability: From property characterization to reliability analysis

Cohesion(c) and friction angle(φ) of rock are important parameters required for reliability analysis of rock slope stability. There is correlation between c and φ which affects results of reliability analysis of rock slope stability. However, the characterization of joint probability distribution of c and φ through which their correlation can be estimated requires a large amount of rock property data, which are often not available for most rock engineering projects. As a result, the correlation between c and φ is often ignored or simply assumed during reliability studies, which may lead to bias estimation of failure probability. In probabilistic rock slope stability analysis, the influence of ignoring or simply assuming the correlation of the rock strength parameters(i.e., c and φ) on the reliability of rock slopes has not been fully investigated. In this study, a Bayesian approach is developed to characterize the correlation between c and φ, and an expanded reliability-based design(RBD) approach is developed to assess the influence of correlation between c and φ on reliability of a rock slope. The Bayesian approach characterizes the sitespecific joint probability distribution of c and φ, and quantifies the correlation between c and φ using available limited data pairs of c and φ from a rock project. The expanded RBD approach uses the joint probability distribution of c and φ obtained through the Bayesian approach as inputs, to determine the reliability of a rock slope. The approach gives insight into the propagation of the correlation between c and φ through their joint probability into the reliability analysis, and their influence on the calculated reliability of the rock slope. The approaches may be applied in practice with little additional effort from a conventional analysis. The proposed approaches are illustrated using real c and φ data pairs obtained from laboratory tests of fractured rock at Forsmark, Sweden.     

Parametric Monte Carlo studies of rock slopes based on the Hoek–Brown failure criterion

Probabilistic evaluation of slope failures is increasingly seen as the most appropriate framework for accounting for uncertainties in design. This paper performs reliability assessments for rock slopes based on the latest version of the Hoek–Brown failure criterion. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the use of a new form of stability number for rock slope designs that has been recently developed from finite element upper and lower bound limit analysis methods, and to provide guidance for its use in probabilistic assessments. The analyses show that by using this newly proposed stability number, the probability of failure (P_f) obtained from case studies agrees well with the true state of the slope. In addition, this paper details a procedure to determine the magnitude of safety factor required for rock slope design.     

含坡度均方根的节理峰值剪切强度经验公式

节理的剪切强度涉及到岩体工程的安全。通过CSS–342岩体剪切试验机对3组具有不同形貌特征的节理进行直剪试验,研究形貌对剪切强度的影响。试验结果表明：峰值剪切强度随法向应力和粗糙程度的增加而增加;但就相同的形貌而言,剪切应力与法向应力的比值减小,即由形貌产生的剪胀角随法向应力的增加而减小。通过分析剪胀角存在的边界条件,提出双曲线形式的剪胀角演化模型,并采用抗拉强度体现岩石的性质对节理剪切强度的影响。采用坡度均方根表征节理的三维形貌特征并提出相应的峰值剪切强度公式,与经典的Barton公式进行了比较,总体上新公式的计算值更为接近试验值。     

Deformability characteristics of a rock mass under true-triaxial stress compression

In this paper an experimental study was planned on rock mass model with three joint sets under triaxial and true-triaxial stress states to assess the influence of joint geometry and stress ratios on deformational behaviour of rock mass. The physical models were composed of three continuous orthogonal joint sets in which joint set-I was inclined at angle θ=0°, 20°, 40°, 60°, 80° and 90° with x-axis, joint set-II was produced at staggering s=0.5 and joint set-III was kept always vertical. Thus, rock mass models with medium interlocked smooth joints (ϕ _j =36.8°) were simulated under true triaxial compression (σ₁>σ₂>σ₃). Modulus of rock mass shows anisotropy with joint inclination θ which diminishes with increase in σ₂/σ₃ ratio. The rock mass at θ=60° shows the highest modulus enhancement (599.9%) whereas it is minimum (32.3%) at θ=90°. Further two empirical expressions for estimation of deformation modulus were suggested based on experimental results, which were developed by incorporating two basic concepts, e.g. Janbu’s coefficients and joint factor, J _f.     

基于有限元修正节理岩质边坡稳定性计算的解析解

采用有限元方法探讨在人工开挖或自然侵蚀环境下,岩质边坡体内应力场的变化及节理发育形成机理,并采用有限元强度折减法对后缘具有张节理边坡的稳定性影响因素进行敏感性对比分析,进而得出具有非贯通节理边坡稳定性计算的修正解析解。结果表明：卸荷及风化作用导致边坡体由表及里出现应力重分布及应力集中的现象,使边坡后缘由顶部向下发育一簇竖直向下或略向临空面倾斜的张节理,当张节理与下部的缓倾剪节理贯通时,边坡发生破坏;边坡稳定性最敏感的影响因素为受剪节理的倾角及贯通度,其次是节理的强度参数;可将工程中较难调查的节理贯通度转化为节理的强度参数来等效表达,并根据Mohr-Coulomb强度准则推导得到适用于具有非贯通节理的岩质边坡稳定性的修正解析解。     

Modeling 2-D spatial variation in slope reliability analysis using interpolated autocorrelations

This paper deals with slope reliability analysis incorporating two-dimensional spatial variation. Two methods, namely the method of autocorrelated slices and the method of interpolated autocorrelations, are proposed for this purpose. Investigations are carried out based on the limit equilibrium method of slices. First-order-reliability-method (FORM) is coupled with deterministic slope stability analysis using the constrained optimization approach. Systematic search for the probabilistic critical slip surface has been carried out in this study. It is shown that both methods work well in modeling 2-D spatial variation. The results of slope reliability analysis are validated by Monte Carlo simulations. Failure probabilities obtained by FORM agree well with simulation results. It is found that 2-D spatial variation significantly influences the reliability analysis, and that the reliability index is more sensitive to vertical autocorrelation distance than to horizontal autocorrelation distance. Based on this study, failure probability is found significantly overestimated when spatial variation is ignored. Finally, the possible use of the method of interpolated autocorrelations in a probabilistic finite element analysis is suggested.     

基于遍布节理模型的边坡稳定性强度折减法分析

采用非线性数值分析方法分析边坡稳定性问题时,强度折减法因其具有较多的优点而得到广泛应用。岩土体一般采用理想弹塑性模型,屈服准则为广义米赛斯准则。对于密集节理岩质边坡稳定性问题,采用遍布节理模型可同时考虑岩块和节理属性,更符合岩体状态及工程实际,认为岩体经强度折减后潜在破坏可能首先出现在岩体中或沿节理面或二者同时破坏。结合工程实例,基于遍布节理模型的强度折减法计算结果表明,潜在滑移面为折线型滑面,下部潜在滑移面倾角与节理面等效内摩擦角基本一致,上部潜在滑移面与岩体拉破坏相关;节理倾角与边坡安全系数、潜在滑动范围密切相关,陡倾角节理对边坡稳定性影响较小。通过对边坡失稳判据和边坡滑移面确定的探讨,认为以力或位移不收敛作为边坡失稳判据是适当的,而边坡的剪应变速率物理意义十分明确,适于作为边坡潜在滑移面的确定依据。     

基于Barton-Bandis准则的锚固边坡稳定性分析

结合岩石节理面非线性Barton-Bandis破坏准则,探讨了将Barton-Bandis破坏准则参数转化为线性Mohr-Coulomb破坏准则抗剪强度参数的两种常用方法,通过实例分析了各方法的优劣。推导了加锚单岩石节理面控制的平面滑动岩体边坡抗滑稳定性安全系数计算式,开展了锚固参数分析。研究表明：相对于采用等效线性拟合法或切线等效法获取Mohr-Coulomb抗剪强度参数而言,直接应用Barton-Bandis破坏准则计算节理面控制的岩石边坡稳定性更为直观和简便;随着结构面基本摩擦角、结构面粗糙度系数和结构面壁面有效抗压强度的增大,边坡安全系数逐步提高,且结构面基本摩擦角和粗糙度系数对边坡安全系数的影响程度更为显著;锚索锚固力越大,边坡抗滑稳定性越好,而锚索设置角度越大,边坡抗滑稳定性越低,锚索角度设置不当将明显减小锚固效应的有效性。     

一种常见的岩体结构——板裂结构及其力学模型

岩体结构观念的提出对岩体工程地质和岩体力学的研究具有重要意义。岩体结构类型划分方案已经提出了许多,已有的岩体结构划分原则主要是岩体破碎程度。谷德振、孙玉科等曾提出过岩体结构基本单元是:结构面和结构体。1977年底谷德振教授曾提出过,碎碎带应作为一种岩体结构单元问题,没有引起人们的重视。     

Study of the Engineering Geological Problems of the Havasan Dam,with Emphasis on Clay-Filled Joints in the Right Abutment

Havasan dam site is located in northwest of Iran. The planned concrete dam is to be built on Cretaceous limestone. Faulted and fractured limestone is exposed at the dam abutments and in the reservoir area. Rock mass properties including the deformation modulus and uniaxial compressive strength were calculated using different rock mass classification systems (RMR, Q, GSI and DMR). Laboratory tests indicate that joint filling materials contain clay with low to high plasticity (CL to CH) and low to medium potential swelling pressures. X-ray diffraction analysis confirms that the reason for potential swelling of joint fillings is the existence of clay minerals (such as illite and montmorillonite). The study results about the shear strength of clay-filled joints show that under JRC–JCS condition (laboratory scale), JRC _n –JCS _n (large scale) and normal stress equal to 0.25–4 MPa, the range of shear strength of clay-filled joints will be equal to 0.2–2.17 and 0.14–1.72 MPa. In some areas dissolution along the joints results in high permeability, especially in the right abutment. Three dominant joint sets occur in the exploration galleries which have been excavated in the right abutment. The maximum aperture of these joints varies from 7 to 9 cm, and the joints are typically filled with clay. Preliminary analysis shows that the presence of open joints which will cause seepage of water, combined with the impact of the clay-filled joints and forces acting on the slopes, could lead to slope failures and rock falls. In addition, the assessment of slope stability results in abutments using limited equilibrium method and Swedge software under dynamic and static conditions shows that two wedges formed on the slopes of the abutment by the natural joints are potentially unstable. The rock wedge on the left abutment is smaller but presents higher sliding potential. In addition, there is no probability of planar failure due to the geological condition of the dam abutments. This paper summarizes the site investigation and subsequent analysis, which resulted in a recommendation not to construct this site. We offer some potential mitigation plans to consider if a dam were to be built at this site.     

A New Approach to the Modeling of the Pressure Dependency of the Strength of Rocks

Based on the hypothesis that shearing stresses and normal tensile stresses both play a decisive role in fracturing and brittle failure of rock material, a novel strength criterion was developed in one of the earlier works of the author. In the criterion, a certain parameter ν′ occurs which depends on the structure of the material. Originally, the parameter was treated as a constant, which resulted in a linear form of the strength function ^F σ ₁ = f(σ ₃), where σ ₃ = σ ₂. Although the linear strength criterion is sometimes found to be applicable to various particular rock materials, it is not, in general, of a universal character. Analysis of the triaxial test results for 75 different sandstones revealed that parameter ν′ usually increases in an exponential or linear manner as confining pressure increases, and only in isolated cases does it seem to be independent of the confining pressure. For these three types of function ν′ = f(p) appropriate strength criteria ^F σ ₁ = f(σ ₃) are given in the present paper. These criteria were used to fit all of the collected empirical data sets. In general, a very good fit to the data was obtained.     

An approximation to the reliability of series geotechnical systems using a linearization approach

A method based on the linearization of the limit state functions (LSFs) is applied to evaluate the reliability of series geotechnical systems. The approach only needs information provided by first order reliability method (FORM) results: the vector of reliability indices, β, of the LSFs composing the system; and their correlation matrix, R. Two common geotechnical problems—the stability of a slope in layered soil and a circular tunnel in rock—are employed to demonstrate the simplicity, accuracy and efficiency of the suggested procedure, and advantages of the linearization approach with respect to alternative computational tools are discussed. It is also found that, if necessary, the second order reliability method (SORM)—that approximates the true LSF better than FORM—can be employed to compute better estimations of the system’s reliability.     

An anisotropic strength criterion for jointed rock masses and its application in wellbore stability analyses

In this paper, an anisotropic strength criterion is established for jointed rock masses. An orientation distribution function (ODF) of joint connectivity, is introduced to characterize the anisotropic strength of jointed rock masses related to directional distributed joint sets. Coulomb failure condition is formulated for each plane of jointed rock masses by joint connectivity, where the friction coefficient and cohesion of the jointed rock mass are related to those of the intact rock and joint and become orientation dependent. When approximating joint connectivity by its second‐order fabric tensor, an anisotropic strength criterion is derived through an approximate analytical solution to the critical plane problem. To demonstrate the effects of joint distribution on the anisotropic strength of jointed rock masses, the failure envelopes are worked out for different relative orientations of material anisotropy and principal stress axes. The anisotropic strength criterion is also applied to wellbore stability analyses. It is shown that a borehole drilled in the direction of the maximum principal in situ stress is not always the safest due to the anisotropic strength of the jointed rock mass. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A generalized probabilistic approach for slope analysis

Summary A new probabilistic approach is introduced for slope stability analysis, which is general in types of variable distributions and correlations or dependency between variables, and flexible enough to include any adverse impact analysis for blasting vibrations and groundwater conditions.The material strength within a slope area, given in terms of the internal friction angle (ø) and cohesion (c), is randomized in the bivariate joint probability analysis. To be a completely general engineering method, the new probabilistic approach employs the random variable transformation technique: the Hermite model of the Gaussian transformation function, which transforms the experimental histogram of shear strength parameters to the standard Gaussian distribution (=0, ²=1.0).Because a binormal joint probability is analysed on the true probability region projected on the plane of the Gaussian transformed variables, it is an exact solution of slope stability based on the available sample data. No assumption on the shape of the experimental histogram or independency between two random variables is made as in the current probability methods of slope analysis.     

Determination of stability of slope using Minimax Probability Machine

This article examines the capability of Minimax Probability Machine (MPM) for the determination of stability of slope. MPM is constructed within a probabilistic framework. This study uses MPM as classification and regression tools. Unit weight (γ), cohesion (c), angle of internal friction (φ), slope angle (β), height (H) and pore water pressure coefficient (r_u) have been used as inputs of the MPM model. The outputs of MPM are stability status of slope and factor of safety (F). The results of MPM have been compared with the artificial neural network models. The experimental results demonstrate that the developed MPM is a promising tool for the determination of stability of slope.     

Probabilistic slope stability analysis by a copula-based sampling method

In probabilistic slope stability analysis, the influence of cross correlation of the soil strength parameters, cohesion and internal friction angle, on the reliability index has not been investigated fully. In this paper, an expedient technique is presented for probabilistic slope stability analysis that involves sampling a series of combinations of soil strength parameters through a copula as input to an existing conventional deterministic slope stability program. The approach organises the individual marginal probability density distributions of componential shear strength as a bivariate joint distribution by the copula function to characterise the dependence between shear strengths. The technique can be used to generate an arbitrarily large sample of soil strength parameters. Examples are provided to illustrate the use of the copula-based sampling method to estimate the reliability index of given slopes, and the computed results are compared with the first-order reliability method, considering the correlated random variables. A sensitivity study was conducted to assess the influence of correlational measurements on the reliability index. The approach is simple and can be applied in practice with little effort beyond what is necessary in a conventional analysis.     

The shear strength of rock joints in theory and practice

SummaryThe Shear Strength of Rock Joints in Theory and Practice The paper describes an empirical law of friction for rock joints which can be used both for extrapolating and predicting shear strength data. The equation is based on three index parameters; the joint roughness coefficientJRC, the joint wall compressive strengthJCS, and the residual friction angle _r . All these index values can be measured in the laboratory. They can also be measured in the field. Index tests and subsequent shear box tests on more than 100 joint samples have demonstrated that _r can be estimated to within ± 1° for any one of the eight rock types investigated. The mean value of the peak shear strength angle (arctan/ _n ) for the same 100 joints was estimated to within 1/2°. The exceptionally close prediction of peak strength is made possible by performing self-weight (low stress) sliding tests on blocks with throughgoing joints. The total friction angle (arctan/ _n ) at which sliding occurs provides an estimate of the joint roughness coefficientJRC. The latter is constant over a range of effective normal stress of at least four orders of magnitude. However, it is found that bothJRC andJCS reduce with increasing joint length. Increasing the length of joint therefore reduces not only the peak shear strength, but also the peak dilation angle and the peak shear stiffness. These important scale effects can be predicted at a fraction of the cost of performing large scale in situ direct shear tests.With 20 Figures     

边坡岩体力学参数对Hoek-Brown准则参数敏感性的综合性分析

针对广义Hoek-Brown准则参数敏感性分析单因素法的局限性,提出利用正交试验法来研究准则参数对岩体力学参数的影响,该方法可以对各因素的影响进行综合性分析,避免单因素法的片面性。以龙桥特大桥5#拱座所在边坡为工程背景进行了基于正交试验的准则参数敏感性分析。结果表明:地质强度指标GSI对岩体的变形参数Em的影响最显著; 岩石抗压强度ci和岩体扰动系数D对岩体的强度参数C、的影响最显著; 总体来说,岩体力学参数对地质强度指标GSI与岩石抗压强度ci最敏感,对岩体扰动系数D次之,最后为岩石的Hoek-Brown参数mi; 并且准则参数之间无交互作用,相对独立。