Influence of Stochastic Discontinuity Network Parameters on the Formation of Removable Blocks in Rock Slopes |
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Authors: | R Jimenez-Rodriguez N Sitar |
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Institution: | (1) ETS Ing. de Caminos, Canales y Puertos, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Spain;(2) Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California at Berkeley, USA;(3) Formerly at Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California at Berkeley, USA |
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Abstract: | Summary We study the effects of discontinuity network parameters on the formation of removable wedges in rock slopes. Discontinuities
are simulated using the Poisson disk model, and removable wedges are identified using block theory. The formation of removable
wedges of different sizes is assumed to follow a Poisson process. Poisson regression and Monte Carlo simulation are then used
to identify statistically relevant parameters of the model, and to study the effects that variations in their values have
on formation of removable blocks. The sensitivity of the results as a function of the mean orientations of the discontinuity
sets forming the blocks is also studied by means of a parametric study. The volumetric intensity of discontinuities in the
rock mass is found to have a significant impact on the computed estimates of removable block formation. As predicted by theory,
our results indicate that, everything else being equal, the expected rate of formation of removable wedges is proportional
to the square of the intensity measure. Estimates are also sensitive to changes in discontinuity size, especially in cases
in which discontinuities are smaller than one to two times the height of the slope. The interaction between the mean size
of discontinuities and the coefficient of variation of discontinuity sizes is found to be significant as well. Finally, results
of our sensitivity analysis suggest that the orientation of discontinuity sets significantly affects the rate of formation
of removable blocks in rock slopes.
Author’s address: Dr. Rafael Jimenez-Rodriguez, ETS Ing. de Caminos, Canales y Puertos. Universidad Politecnica de Madrid,
Spain |
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Keywords: | : Block theory fracture networks Poisson disk model |
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