Toppling rock slope failures examples of analysis and stabilization

SummaryToppling Rock Slope Failures — Examples of Analysis and Stabilization Three case histories of toppling failures of rock slopes, and the methods used to ensure that failure did not disrupt operations below the slope, are described. The application of Goodman and Bray's limit equilibrium analysis of multi-block failures to these three slopes is demonstrated.The first failure occurred in a 20 m high granite slope that was stabilized by removing the top 6 m and installing a number of tensioned rock anchors in the toe. The second failure occurred in a sequence of folded sandstone, shale and coal. This slide was too large to stabilize, so the movement rate was monitored while mining continued in the pit below until shortly before failure took place. In the third failure, the top 8 m of a single 12 m high toppling block was removed by blasting to prevent further rotational movement.

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ZusammenfassungKippvorgänge beim Bruch von Felsböschungen — Beispiele für die Berechnung und Stabilisierung Es werden drei Fallstudien von Brüchen von Felsböschungen durch Kippen und die dabei angewendeten Sicherungsmethoden beschrieben. Die Anwendung der Grenzgleichgewichtsbetrachtung von Massenbewegungen, die durch Kippvorgänge ausgelöst wurden, nach Goodman and Bray, auf drei Felshänge wird gezeigt.Der erste Bruch ereignete sich in einer 20 m hohen Böschung in Granit. Die Stabilisierung bestand in der Entfernung der obersten 6 m und der Einbringung von einigen Vorspannankern. Der zweite Bruch ereignete sich in einer Serie von gefalteten Sandsteinen, Schiefern und Kohlen. Da die Größe dieser Rutschung eine Stabilisierung unmöglich machte, wurden die Bewegungen genau registriert und der Abbau bis kurz vor dem eigentlichen Bruch fortgesetzt. Das dritte Beispiel ist ein einzelner 12 m hoher, kippender Block, dessen oberste 8 m weggesprengt wurde, um ein weiteres Kippen zu verhindern.

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RésuméDéfauts par chute de rampes rocheuses — Exemples des analyses et de stabilisation Ce résumé décrit trois événements de rupture de pentes rocheuses et les méthodes de stabilisation utilisées. Dans ces trois cas l'auteur montre l'utilisation de l'analyse de la limite d'équilibre des masses rocheuses pour un mouvement de basculement selon Goodman et Bray.Le premier cas a eu lieu sur une rampe granitique de 20 m hauteur, laquelle a été stabilisée en 6 m de roche au sommet et en possant quelque d'ancrage au pied de la pente. La deuxième défaut s'a produit avec une séquence de roches de formation gréseuse, d'argile schisteuse et du charbon. Cette glissement a été trop grande pour être stabilisée, donc la raison de mouvement a été controlée au même temps qu'on travaillait dans le puit au dessous quelque temps avant que le défaut se produisse. Dans le troisième défaut les 8 m de sommet d'un seul bloc rocheux ont été dépilés par des méthodes explosifs pour prévenir ultérieur mouvements rotatives.

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With 6 Figures     

Median filter behaviour with seismic data1

Median filters may be used with seismic data to attenuate coherent wavefields. An example is the attenuation of the downgoing wavefield in VSP data processing. The filter is applied across the traces in the ‘direction’ of the wavefield. The final result is given by subtracting the filtered version of the record from the original record. This method of median filtering may be called ‘median filtering operated in subtraction’. The method may be extended by automatically estimating the slowness of coherent wavefields on a record. The filter is then applied in a time- and-space varying manner across the record on the basis of the slowness values at each point on the record. Median filters are non-linear and hence their behaviour is more difficult to determine than linear filters. However, there are a number of methods that may be used to analyse median filter behaviour: (1) pseudo-transfer functions to specific time series; (2) the response of median filters to simple seismic models; and (3) the response of median filters to steps that simulate terminating wavefields, such as faults on stacked data. These simple methods provide an intuitive insight into the behaviour of these filters, as well as providing a semiquantitative measurement of performance. The performance degradation of median filters in the presence of trace-to-trace variations in amplitude is shown to be similar to that of linear filters. The performance of median filters (in terms of signal distortion) applied obliquely across a record may be improved by low-pass filtering (in the t-dimension). The response of median filters to steps is shown to be affected by background noise levels. The distortion of steps introduced by median filters approaches the distortion of steps introduced by the corresponding linear filter for high levels of noise.     

The effect of strain rate on rock strength

Summary The effect of the strain rate on strength has been evaluated for two widely different rock types, a brittle limestone (Tyndallstone) and a ductile salt rock (Lanigan potash rock).Results of static and dynamic fatigue tests on Tyndallstone, a dolomitic limestone, show an increase in strength with increasing strain or stressing rate although the rate effect is very small. Although the static and dynamic fatigue tests are expected to yield the same stress corrosion parameter, no such agreement has been observed.Dynamic fatigue tests of the more ductile salt rock showed a substantial rate effect. The usual strength criteria, that consider the influence of confining pressure alone, are no longer adequate to describe the strength of Lanigan potash. A general strength criterion, that incorporates the effect of both the confining pressure and the strain rate, is proposed.     

LAGRANGIAN METHOD USED IN THE RESEARCH OF ATMOSPHERIC CIRCULATION

Based on the conservation of entropy and potential vorticity in adiabatic atmospheric motion without theconsideration of friction,calculation is made of the trajectory of a particle on an isentropic surface by use ofthe data of FGGE III-b.Results of several calculation schemes of the trajectory discussed show that thelocal data interpolation and Runge-Kutta time-integral scheme is the best.The calculated trajectory reflectsthe large-scale atmospheric motion only and the small-scale motion emerges as a deviation term of thecalculated trajectory.And then the outbreak and propagation of planetary wave are studied by means ofthe deformation of a material line,with the result showing that the material line can be tracked in the trop-osphere only in a few days,beyond which the interaction between the small-scale waves and large-scale motionleads to its dramatical twisting and deformation.Therefore,the Lagrangian method is assumed to be an effectivemeans of diagnostic research in the nonlinear interaction in atmospheric circulation,in addition to the generalstudy of the atmospheric circulation.     

Processes controlling acid attenuation in the unsaturated zone of a Triassic sandstone aquifer (U.K.), in the absence of carbonate minerals

Continuous core samples were taken through the unsaturated zone at three sites on the outcrop of Permo-Triassic sandstone in the British West Midlands. Sample sites were chosen for lack of recent, direct anthropogenic disturbance, and for differing vegetation: heathland, birch woodland and conifer forest. Interstitial water was extracted and analyzed for 32 major and trace elements. Solid phases were analyzed for exchangeable cations and mineralogy. The rate of recharge calculated using a Cl mass balance method was three times greater below heathland than below afforested sites owing to higher evapotranspiration rates in the woodlands.Carbonate minerals were absent from the unsaturated zone at each site. Soil solutions were acidic and soils at the woodland sites were more acidic (pH 4.0) than those at the heathland site (pH 4.5). Acidic interstitial water solutions were found to up to 5.0 m depth in the unsaturated zone and are partially neutralized by two aluminosilicate mineral reactions in the unsaturated zone: cation exchange and K-feldspar dissolution. The rate at which these acid neutralizing reactions act to neutralize acidity is revealed by the rate of depletion of base cations from the unsaturated zone in recharge solutions; K⁺ (dissolution), Ca⁺² + Mg⁺² (cation exchange). The total base cation depletion rate was greatest below heathland; this can be attributed mainly to the greater rate of SO₄ assimilation by the woodland biome.     

En echelon crack-arrays in potash salt rock

Summary There are two types of fracture patterns in the yield pillars of the potash mines of Saskatchewan. The individual members of both patterns are tensile (extension) fractures that propagate parallel with the maximum principal stress trajectory (perpendicular to the minimum principal stress). The difference between the two patterns lies in the arrangement of the member fractures. In theen echelon tensile crack-array, the macroscopic fracture consists of individual tensile cracks that are slightly offset from each other. They have only a small overlap and the child crack seems to form randomly on either side of its parent. Consequently, the en echelon tensile crack-array inherits the axial orientation of its members. In contrast, the tensile cracks of anen echelon shear crack-array, have a larger overlap and their lateral displacement from each other is biased in one direction. Therefore, the crack-array is no longer axial but inclined 20–25 degrees from the maximum principal stress direction. With increasing stress, the shear crack-array often collapses, forming theenvelope orhourglass structures of the potash mines.     

Sea-bed characterisation and classification from the power spectra of side-scan sonar data

This work is concerned with the automatic characterisation and classification of the sea-bed for side-scan sonar trace power-spectra.A parametric model of side-scan sonar trace power-spectra is developed from the equation for the magnitude frequency response of a Butterworth filter. The model's parameters are optimised to give a least squares fit with observed spectra. Three of the optimised parameters are used to define features.     

Spatially resolved kinematics and stellar populations of brightest cluster and group galaxies

We present an examination of the kinematics and stellar populations of a sample of three brightest group galaxies (BGGs) and three brightest cluster galaxies (BCGs) in X-ray groups and clusters. We have obtained high signal-to-noise ratio Gemini/Gemini South Multi-Object Spectrograph (GMOS) long-slit spectra of these galaxies and use Lick indices to determine ages, metallicities and α-element abundance ratios out to at least their effective radii. We find that the BGGs and BCGs have very uniform masses, central ages and central metallicities. Examining the radial dependence of their stellar populations, we find no significant velocity dispersion, age, or α-enhancement gradients. However, we find a wide range of metallicity gradients, suggesting a variety of formation mechanisms. The range of metallicity gradients observed is surprising, given the homogeneous environment these galaxies probe and their uniform central stellar populations. However, our results are inconsistent with any single model of galaxy formation and emphasize the need for more theoretical understanding of both the origins of metallicity gradients and galaxy formation itself. We postulate two possible physical causes for the different formation mechanisms.