2D and 3D rock slope stability analysis in an open-pit mine

Author(s):  
J.G. Soto ◽  
C. Romanel
Geosciences ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 319
Author(s):  
Musah Abdulai ◽  
Mostafa Sharifzadeh

The rock slope stability analysis can be performed using deterministic and probabilistic approaches. The deterministic analysis based on the safety concept factor uses fixed representative values for each input parameter involved without considering the variability and uncertainty of the rock mass properties. Probabilistic analysis with the calculation of probability of failure instead of the factor of safety against failure is emerging in practice. Such analyses offer a more rational approach to quantify risk by incorporating uncertainty in the input variables and evaluating the probability of the failure of a system. In rock slope engineering, uncertainty and variability involve a large scatter of geo-structural data and varied geomechanical test results. There has been extensive reliability analysis of rock slope stability in the literature, and different methods of reliability are being employed for assessment of the probability of failure and the reliability of a slope. Probabilistic approaches include Monte Carlo simulation (MCS), the point estimate method (PEM), the response surface method (RSM), first- and second-order reliability methods (FORMs and SORMs), and the first-order second-moment method (FOSM). Although these methods may be complicated, they provide a more complete definition of risk. Probabilistic slope stability analysis is an option in most commercial software; however, the use of this method is not common in practice. This paper provides an overview of the literature on some of the main probabilistic reliability-based methods available for the design of the rock slope in open pit mining. To demonstrate its applicability, the paper investigates the stability of a rock slope in an open pit mine in the Goldfields region, Western Australia. Two different approaches were adopted: deterministic stability analysis using two-dimensional limit equilibrium and finite element shear strength reduction methods using SLIDE and RS2 software, respectively, and probabilistic analysis by applying the MCS and RSM methods in the limit equilibrium method. In this example, the slope stability analysis was performed using the Spencer method with Cuckoo search optimization to locate the critical slip surface. The results obtained were compared and commented on.


Heliyon ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (5) ◽  
pp. e03907 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Azarafza ◽  
Haluk Akgün ◽  
Mohammad-Reza Feizi-Derakhshi ◽  
Mehdi Azarafza ◽  
Jafar Rahnamarad ◽  
...  

2011 ◽  
Vol 08 (02) ◽  
pp. 209-228 ◽  
Author(s):  
HEHUA ZHU ◽  
XIAOYING ZHUANG ◽  
YONGCHANG CAI ◽  
GUOWEI MA

The meshless methods are particularly suitable for modeling problems with discontinuities such as joints in rock mass. The meshless Shepard and least squares (MSLS) method is a newly developed meshless method, which overcomes some limitations with other meshless methods. In the present paper, the MSLS method is extended for modeling jointed rock mass and the joint is modeled as discontinuity governing the near-field stress. A substantial high rock slope by the dam shoulder of Jinping Hydropower Station is analyzed by the developed method. Safety factors are evaluated based on the stress results along potential slip surfaces and compared with the conventional slice methods. The results demonstrate the feasibility of using the MSLS method in rock slope stability analysis and also reveal some interesting differences from the conventional slice methods. Some findings and outstanding issues demonstrated in this study are discussed in the end, which can be the topics for future development.


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