Bayesian-based probabilistic kinematic analysis of discontinuity-controlled rock slope instabilities

Discontinuity-controlled rock slope instability analysis is a difficult problem in the field of geotechnical engineering. Many random discontinuities existing in rock masses will negatively influence rock slope stabilities. This study is aimed to determine the failure angle (apparent angle of the sliding surface in the direction of the cut face) of potentially unstable blocks in discontinuity-controlled rock slopes in Dalian, China. For this purpose, a detailed discontinuity survey was conducted in seven exploratory trenches and two outcrops. Possible failure modes of the slope were predicted. Thus, according to theories of kinematics and probability statistics, it is possible to determine the failure angle of potentially unstable blocks with a new method that combines the results of Bayesian inference, probabilistic kinematic analysis and stereographic projection. Bayes’ formula was used to estimate the scientific value of the slope failure angle. A computer program called KINEMATIC was written to perform probabilistic kinematic analysis. Stereographic projection was used to verify the values obtained from the methods. Through the methodology proposed in the study, the failure angle of each excavation slope could be well calculated.     

基于贝叶斯更新和信息量分析的边坡钻孔布置方案优化设计方法

为在节省岩土工程勘察成本的前提下获得最有价值的现场试验数据,通常需要事先设计最优的工程勘察方案。提出了基于贝叶斯更新和信息量分析的边坡钻孔布置方案优化设计方法,其中采用贝叶斯方法更新空间变异土体参数统计特征和计算边坡后验失效概率,在此基础上进行场地信息量分析确定边坡最优钻孔位置和最佳钻孔间距。此外,为更加准确地表征土体参数的先验信息,发展了非平稳随机场模型以表征土体参数均值和标准差随埋深逐渐增加的特性。最后通过一个不排水饱和黏土边坡算例验证了提出方法的有效性。结果表明:所提出的方法能够在现场勘察试验之前仅利用现有的土体参数先验信息有效确定边坡最优钻孔位置和最佳钻孔间距。对了解边坡稳定性能所需的试验数据,并不是钻孔间距越小所获得的信息量越大。     

Estimation of In-Situ Shear Strength Parameters of Weathered Granitic (MASADO) Slopes Using Lightweight Dynamic Cone Penetrometer

A major problem in the geotechnical approach to the stability of natural slopes is that there is usually little information on the in-situ geotechnical conditions, because of the extreme difficulty associated with ground investigations of steep slopes covered with vegetation. In this study, a lightweight dynamic cone penetration test (LWDCPT) has been introduced for a geotechnical survey of natural weathered granitic (Masado) slopes. Based on a series of direct shear tests, the internal friction angle and the apparent cohesion of reconstituted Masado soil were found to be fairly closely related to the void ratio and the degree of saturation in the soil. From the laboratory calibration tests, an equation was created to relate the dynamic cone resistance (q_d) and the void ratio of reconstituted Masado under different degrees of saturation. Equations were developed to calculate the internal friction angle and the apparent cohesion from the value of q_d for Masado at a known degree of saturation. LWDCPT and direct shear tests were carried out on undisturbed samples taken from a natural Masado slope. The estimated internal friction angle and the apparent cohesion calculated with the value of q_d in the LWDCPTs agreed fairly well with those of tests on the undisturbed samples obtained in laboratory shear tests.     

Fuzzy approach for preliminary design of weak rock slopes in lignite mines

Rock slope failure modes are either driven by structurally controlled mechanisms (planar, wedge, or toppling failure) or lean upon the highly jointed or weak rock mass (circular failure). Developing practical tools for preliminary slope design is a popular topic among geotechnical society. This study proposes a practical methodology to predict a safe overall slope angle for weak rock slopes of lignite mines. Rock mass rating (RMR) and slope mass rating (SMR) classification systems can be remarkably misleading for weak rocks. Fuzzy modification was proven to improve rock and slope quality predictions. In addition, structurally controlled failures can be estimated more precisely. Later, a popular slope performance chart of Bieniawski that is based on RMR was modified by the fuzzy approach, and the computer models of a weak rock mass failure in a Turkish lignite mine are presented. The modified methodology was proven to be better suited to the weak rock conditions.     

基于Kriging的边坡稳定可靠度主动搜索法

边坡等岩土工程的复杂性不仅体现在各类岩土参数的变异性,同时还在于其功能函数模式的隐含性、非解析性甚至未确知性,针对这一特性,以边坡极限平衡模式为范例研究出一种易于执行的边坡工程稳定可靠度直接求解算法。首先,调用边坡极限平衡模式获得岩土基本参数及其对应的边坡稳定系数的适量样本;然后,采用地质统计学中的Kriging各向异性关联映射方法,将边坡功能函数值表达为随机过程并通过样本确定该过程的控制变量,再结合蒙特卡洛模拟与主动学习方法,基于搜索规则调整训练样本,通过迭代循环确定随机过程表示的边坡功能函数所在的最可能失效区域;最后,调用随机过程函数在该区域通过简易的直接计算获得边坡失效概率。工程实例分析与计算结果表明该方法精度与蒙特卡洛海量模拟方法相当,但计算过程直接简易,计算代价低,具有较好的实用性。     

盐水溪立交桥北侧边坡稳定性的计算及评价

通过对边坡的岩土工程进行勘察,查明边坡的工程地质条件,并对边坡的稳定性计算后进行了稳定性评价,表明斜坡在暴雨条件下,多处于不稳定或欠稳定状态。     

Instability assessment of slopes in heavily jointed limestone rock

This paper presents the results of geotechnical investigations regarding the assessments of instability problems in the high wall slope faces of the heavily jointed limestone rock mass in Marulan Quarry in NSW, Australia. Generally, instability of hard rock slopes is mainly controlled by the presence of the structural geology and rock mass discontinuities through the slope faces of the open pit excavations. Stability analysis of slope faces in an open pit mine requires the laboratory assessment of the engineering properties of rock, shear strength of the discontinuities and also field investigations of the rock mass discontinuities. To achieve the above objectives, a laboratory testing program was carried out on the intact rock samples and also a three-dimensional scanline survey was carried out to consider the physical and mechanical properties of the rock mass discontinuities. The results of the discontinuity data collected during joint surveys were interpreted with the application of stereographic projection techniques for assessing the potential unstable zones and also for defining the modes of failure in different parts of the limestone quarry.      

水绥公路阶梯边坡强度参数反演分析

云南省水绥二级公路某路段为阶梯形人工松散质岩质边坡．根据该路段典型的边坡削面形状,结合儿体的工程地质条件,用极限平衡法进行搜索,分析其局郎及整体最危险滑移而．计算结果表明：最危险滑移面往天然和饱水软化条件下的安全系数均小于1．0,坡体均不稳定。从该边坡目的的状态看,它是稳定的,而且历史上降雨作用下也没有滑塌记录,针对这一问题,通过对松散体强度参数进行反演分析,最后给出了建议的参数值,为该路段边坡的稳定性评价分析提供可靠的技术支持。     

Laboratory shear strength parameters of cohesive soils: variability and potential effects on slope stability

The study quantified laboratory geotechnical variability by analyzing compacted alluvial fine-grained soils commonly used to backfill exhausted quarries in Central Italy. Repeating the test 4 times and combining the relevant results, 256 pairs of friction angle and cohesion values were obtained, with mean values of 27.0° ± 0.8° and 19.22 ± 4.08 kPa, respectively in the shear stress range 100–250 kPa. The influence of the variability of laboratory drained shear strength parameters on the long-term stability of artificial saturated slopes was examined, taking into account both deterministic and probabilistic approaches. In many cases, when the deterministic approach indicates stability, the probabilistic one indicates a certain probability of instability, even for the lowest slope height (5 m) and a slope angle higher than 15°.     

岩质反倾边坡局部锚杆加固分析方法研究

全长黏结型锚杆作为一种有效且经济的加固手段,在边坡工程中得到广泛的应用。基于最新提出的岩质反倾边坡弯曲倾倒破坏分析方法和极限平衡理论,建立锚杆局部加固后该类边坡的力学模型和稳定性分析方法,给出加固后的边坡安全系数计算公式,并将理论分析结果与离散元(UDEC)计算结果进行对比分析。研究结果表明:理论解与UDEC计算的数值解具有较高的一致性,两者相互得到了验证;用全长黏结型锚杆加固岩质反倾边坡时,最优加固位置位于叠合倾倒区内,具体位置与边坡的物理力学参数、锚杆锚固参数有关;减小锚杆与层面的夹角,能够充分发挥锚杆对层面的阻滑作用,进而提高加固效果。     

土工构造物边坡冲刷临界坡度的研究

分析土工构造物边坡 (后面均简称为边坡 )冲刷防护必要性及目前边坡冲刷临界坡度研究存在的不足 ,针对这些不足 ,对边坡径流流速、水深做了较为细致的水力学分析 ,利用泥沙运动力学研究了坡面径流对土壤颗粒冲刷机理 ,得出各主要坡面冲刷影响因素 (降雨、坡顶汇流长度、坡长、坡顶坡面的粗糙系数、土粒比重与直径 )与冲刷临界坡度的函数关系 ,并认为该坡度不是一个常数 ,而是一个受这些因素影响的可变区间     

山地城镇高边坡灾变危险性区划研究

本文旨在研究山区城镇高边坡引起的岩土工程风险问题。基于高边坡灾变机理分析,建立具有普遍意义的山地城镇高边坡危险性评价指标体系;同时结合专家打分的方式采用层次分析法确定相应致灾因子的权重值;利用地理信息系统(GIS)的图层叠加原理,提出高边坡危险性区划评价的数学模型,从而构建了一种山地城镇高边坡灾变危险性区划的研究方法。实例研究表明,该方法能得到较理想的高边坡危险性区划结果。     

The influences of geological and land use settings on shallow landslides triggered by an intense rainfall event in a coastal terraced environment

Several factors (including slope morphology, geological and structural settings, the mechanical properties of soils, weathering, hydrological and hydrogeological conditions and land use changes) can affect the origin and development of shallow landslides induced by rainfall. On 25 October 2011, an intense rainfall occurred in a wide area of Italy between eastern Liguria and northern Tuscany, triggering thousands of shallow landslides and causing widespread flooding. Floods and landslides caused severe damage to villages and infrastructure and caused 13 fatalities. This study was conducted to investigate the shallow landslides triggered by the rainfall in the Vernazza basin (Cinque Terre in eastern Liguria), where landslides and debris floods caused 3 fatalities and damage of approximately €130 million. The Vernazza basin, which is characterised by steep slopes, geological heterogeneity and unusual land use settings (approximately 50 % of the slopes have been terraced for centuries), was chosen as the focus of this study, conducted to assess the influences of several factors on landslide occurrence. Field surveys and engineering geological investigations, including laboratory and in situ tests, were carried out at various sites to assess the stratigraphic and geotechnical features of the soil slope covers. A basic engineering geological zoning was carried out, taking into account the bedrock lithology, the geotechnical properties of the soils and the land use settings. On the basis of a detailed inventory of the shallow landslides that occurred, the distribution of the landslides was analysed with respect to the slopes, the bedrock lithology, the land uses and the engineering geological setting. Terraced areas on impermeable bedrock were identified as the main landslide-prone areas. The results of the study also showed that the time since abandonment of terraces plays an important role in the occurrence of shallow landslides induced by rainfall.     

岩质边坡单折线滑动面稳定性影响因素分析

针对岩质边坡单折线形滑动面这一特定滑动模式,主要从内因方面对边坡的影响因素进行分析,先采用多因素正交试验对影响单折线滑移型岩质边坡稳定的因素进行敏感性分析,得出下滑面黏聚力、坡高、坡角和下滑面摩擦角的敏感度高于其他因素,继而对工程中较关注的滑动面上物理力学参数对边坡安全稳定性进行分析,得出在黏聚力变化和一定时,对稳定系数的影响.     

Evaluating the effects of the magnitude and amplification of pseudo-static acceleration on reinforced soil slopes and walls using the limit equilibrium Horizontal Slices Method

The effects of horizontal and vertical pseudo-static forces on reinforced soil structures are investigated in the paper. In particular, the effects of the magnitude and amplification of the ground acceleration on the seismic stability of reinforced soil slopes and walls have been investigated using the Horizontal Slices Method (HSM). The HSM is a limit equilibrium method for the analysis of reinforced soil structures, which offers a number of benefits over conventional vertical slice methods. First, a parametric study using acceptable geotechnical, geometrical and design parameters was undertaken. The results of the parametric analysis are presented in dimensionless form relating to the force required to maintain stability of the slope (K) and the required length of the reinforcements (L_c/H). Different rotational and planar slip surfaces are shown for various slopes and walls with different geotechnical strength parameters. Second, the capability of the HSM to consider the effect of earthquake amplification on the stability analysis of reinforced soil structures was considered. It has been shown that the effect of horizontal seismic acceleration on the response of reinforced slopes and walls depends mainly on the geotechnical strength parameters. The effect of vertical seismic acceleration on the performance of reinforced slopes is not significant for low values of horizontal seismic acceleration. It has been concluded that ignoring the effect of the amplification phenomenon could result in an underestimated design.     

Factor of safety of strain-softening slopes

Stability analysis of strain-softening slopes is carried out using the shear strength reduction method and Mohr-Coulomb model with degrading cohesion and friction angle.The e ffect of strain-softening behavior on the slope factor of safety is investigated by performing a series of analyses for various slope geometries and strength properties.Stability charts and equations are developed to estimate the factor of safety of strain-softe ning slopes from the results of traditional stability analysis based on perfectly-plastic behavior.Two example applications including an open pit mine in weak rock and clay shale slope with daylighting bedding planes are presented.The results of limit equilibrium analysis and shear strength reduction method with perfectly-plastic models were in close agreement.Using perfectly-plastic models with peak strength properties led to overly optimistic results while adopting residual strength properties gave excessively conservative outcomes.The shear strength reduction method with a strain-softening model gave realistic factors of safety while accounting for the process of strength degradation.     

Effect of the vertical earthquake component on permanent seismic displacement of soil slopes based on the nonlinear Mohr–Coulomb failure criterion

In the present study, a model is developed to calculate the upper bound of the seismic displacement of a slope based on the sliding rigid block model. In this model, it is assumed that the geotechnical materials satisfy the nonlinear Mohr–Coulomb (M–C) failure criterion, and the instantaneous shear strength parameters are introduced by the “external tangent method”. A sequential quadratic program, based on the nonlinear iteration procedure, is also employed to obtain the optimal solution for the objective function. Using the upper bound method and the Newmark sliding rigid block model, the effect of the vertical earthquake component on the permanent displacement of slopes is studied under the following two conditions: (1) It is assumed that the vertical acceleration is in phase with the horizontal acceleration; (2) Actual vertical ground motion records are used (i.e., the vertical and horizontal accelerations are mutually independent). The results show that the nonlinear parameter m significantly affects the permanent displacement of slopes, and that the effect of the vertical earthquake component on permanent displacement cannot be ignored. The impact of the vertical earthquake component on slope stability will be overestimated if the vertical acceleration is in phase with the horizontal acceleration.     

An experimental investigation on slope stability under drawdown conditions using transparent soils

This paper presents an experimental investigation into slope failure during water-level drawdown using transparent soil. The internal characteristics of slope failure are not well-known due to the limitations of the techniques used in the experiments conducted to date. In this study, transparent soil is used to visualize the process of slope failure. We developed a water-level control system to implement simulation of the drawdown of the water level at various speeds and used a charge-coupled device camera to capture images during the entire slope failure process. Particle image velocimetry was used to measure the displacement of the sand particles and identify the sliding zones. The flow paths of the fluid inside the slope were illuminated using an organic dye. The results show that the slope failure process can be divided into two stages: surface and overall sliding. The overall sliding of the slope is caused by the gradual development of partial instability, and the failure mode is a cyclic failure. The slope angle is different above and below the water level during the process of sliding. In our experiments, the slope angle is about 20° above the water level, which is the same as the final stable slope angle, and about 35° below the water level, which is the same as the initial slope angle. This means that the drawdown influences the angle above the water level but has little influence on the angle below the water level. The results of this paper provide a better understanding of the physical behavior and failure mode of soil slopes caused by drawdowns near the coast.     

Stability assessment and slope design at Sandsloot open pit, South Africa

Sandsloot open pit is located on the northern limb of the Bushveld Igneous Complex. It is the largest open pit platinum mine in the world. Three major joint sets have been recognized at Sandsloot, which are related to the regional tectonic history. They have an important influence on slope stability in the open pit, notably in terms of planar and wedge failures. Detailed geological and geotechnical data are often a notable unknown factor in the design and operation of an open pit, the lack of which may pose a significant risk to the mining venture. As data are accumulated and used effectively, so the risk of unforeseen conditions is reduced, and accordingly safety and productivity is increased. Usually, the geotechnical work undertaken at an open pit mine is in connection with improving slope stability. At Sandsloot open pit geological and geotechnical data have been obtained by face mapping, scanline surveys, from exploration drillholes and from laboratory tests. Such data have been used to delineate different geotechnical zones in which different types of slope failure have occurred. These are the usual types of slope failure associated with rock masses, namely, planar, wedge, toppling and circular failures. Analysis of the data has allowed optimum design parameters to be developed for these zones which has led to improved slope stability. In other words, this has allowed slope management programmes to be initiated, as well as slope optimization of the hangingwall. The latter resulted in an improved slope configuration and an increase in the ultimate angle of the wall by 7°. This has resulted in substantial savings, as well as an improvement in safety.     

圆形凸坡的稳定性分析

通过三维数值分析表明圆形凸坡的破坏模式接近于轴对称破坏,采用一般的三维破坏模式会使计算结果偏于不安全,揭示了目前三维分析方法中滑裂面形状的假设并非总是合理。构建了轴对称条件下的容许速度场,得到了内摩擦角(=0时圆形凸坡临界坡高的上限解。同时提出了轴对称破坏模式下,计算圆形凸坡安全系数的极限平衡方法。比较了圆形凸坡和长直坡的稳定性差异,圆形凸坡的相对半径越小、土体越接近于纯黏性土时两者的差异越大,坡度较小时前者较稳定,坡度较大时则相反,进而纠正了以往认为平面应变模型计算圆形凸坡偏于不安全的错误认识。