DEM analysis of rock bridges and the contribution to rock slope stability in the case of translational sliding failures

Bonilla-Sierra, V.; Scholtès, Luc; Donzé, Frédéric‐Victor; Elmouttie, Marc

doi:10.1016/j.ijrmms.2015.09.008

Cited by 51 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…() observed that high‐magnitude waves can cause ground accelerations an order of magnitude greater than have previously been observed and rates of erosion two orders of magnitude larger than the time‐averaged mean for cliffs formed of mudstones, siltstones, and sandstones. The shear strength of joints is significantly influenced by the presence of co‐planar rock bridges (Bonilla‐Sierra et al ., ). These results suggest that crack nucleation and progressive failure of rock bridges is likely accelerated due to microseismic shaking associated with high‐magnitude storm waves.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Marine control over negative power law scaling of mass wasting events in chalk sea cliffs with implications for future recession under the UKCP09 medium emission scenario

Gilham

Barlow

Moore

2018

Earth Surf Processes Landf

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Coastal cliff erosion represents a significant geohazard for people and infrastructure. Forecasting future erosion rates is therefore of critical importance to ensuring the resiliency of coastal communities. We use high precision monitoring of chalk cliffs at Telscombe, UK to generate monthly mass movement inventories between August 2016 and July 2017. Frequency-magnitude analysis of our inventories demonstrate negative power law scaling over 7 orders of magnitude and, for the first time, we report statistically significant correlations between significant wave height (H s ) and power law scaling coefficients (r 2 values of 0.497 and 0.590 for β and s respectively). Applying these relationships allows for a quantitative method to predict erosion at the site based on H s probabilities and sea level forecasts derived from the UKCP09 medium emission climate model (A1B). Monte-Carlo simulations indicate a range of possible erosion scenarios over 70 years and we assess the impact these may have on the A259 coastal road which runs proximal to the cliffs. Results indicate a small acceleration in erosion compared with those based on current conditions with the most likely scenario at the site being 21.7 m of cliff recession by 2090. However, low-probability events can result in recession an order of magnitude higher in some scenarios. In the absence of negative feedbacks, we estimate an~11% chance that the A259 will be breached by coastal erosion by 2090.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Marine control over negative power law scaling of mass wasting events in chalk sea cliffs with implications for future recession under the UKCP09 medium emission scenario

Gilham

Barlow

Moore

2018

Earth Surf Processes Landf

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“…The failure process of a slope rock mass with cracks is mainly controlled by the rock bridge and structural plane [1,2]. The rock bridge refers to the discontinuous part, which plays a key bearing role on the potential sliding surface of the slope, which can also be called the locked section [3,4]. Rock slope stability is highly affected by the geometrical configuration and mechanical behavior of the geological discontinuities located in the rock slope.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Analysis of Progressive Failure Mechanism of Rock Slope with Locked Section Based on Energy Theory

et al. 2020

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Progressive failure in rock bridges along pre-existing discontinuities is one of the predominant destruction modes of rock slopes. The monitoring and prediction of the impending progressive failure is of great significance to ensure the stability of the rock structures and the safety of the workers. The deformation and fracture of rocks are complex processes with energy evolution between rocks and the external environment. Regarding the whole slope as a system, an energy evolution equation of rock slope systems during progressive failure was established by an energy method of systemic stability. Then, considering the weakening effect of joints and the locking effect of rock bridges, a method for calculating the safety factor of rock slopes with a locked section was proposed. Finally, the energy evolution equation and the calculation method of safety factor are verified by a case study. The results show that when the energy dissipated in the progressive failure process of rock bridges is less than the energy accumulated by itself, the deformation energy stored in the slope system can make the locked section deform continuously until the damage occurs. The system energy equal to zero can be used as the critical criterion for the dynamic instability of the rock slope with locked section. The accumulated deformation energy in the slope system can promote the development of the cracks in the locked section, and the residual energy in the critical sliding state is finally released in the form of kinetic energy, which is the main reason for the progressive dynamic instability of rock slopes.

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“…Kemeny 2005), but this property is extremely difficult to determine in practice (e.g. O'Reilly 1980;Park 2005;Kim et al 2007;Wasantha et al 2011;Bonilla-Sierra et al 2015;Tucky and Stead 2016). The persistence and aperture of discontinuities also influence their hydraulic properties and flow pathways (Fu et al 2016;Medici et al 2016).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Forensic Excavation of Rock Masses: A Technique to Investigate Discontinuity Persistence

et al. 2017

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True persistence of rock discontinuities (areas with insignificant tensile strength) is an important factor controlling the engineering behaviour of fractured rock masses, but is extremely difficult to quantify using current geological survey methodologies, even where there is good rock exposure. Trace length as measured in the field or using remote measurement devices is actually only broadly indicative of persistence for rock engineering practice and numerical modelling. Visible traces of discontinuities are treated as if they were open fractures within rock mass classifications, despite many such traces being non-persistent and actually retaining considerable strength. The common assumption of 100% persistence, based on trace length, is generally extremely conservative in terms of strength and stiffness, but not always so and may lead to a wrong prediction of failure mechanism or of excavatability. Assuming full persistence would give hopelessly incorrect predictions of hydraulic conductivity. A new technique termed forensic excavation of rock masses is introduced, as a procedure for directly investigating discontinuity persistence. This technique involves non-explosive excavation of rock masses by injecting an expansive chemical splitter along incipient discontinuities. On expansion, the splitter causes the incipient traces to open as true joints. Experiments are described in which near-planar rock discontinuities, through siltstone and sandstone, were opened up by injecting the splitter into holes drilled along the lines of visible traces of the discontinuities in the laboratory and in the field. Once exposed the surfaces were examined to investigate the pre-existing persistence characteristics of the incipient discontinuities. One conclusion from this study is that visible trace length of a discontinuity can be a poor indicator of true persistence (defined for a fracture area with negligible tensile strength). An observation from this series of experiments was that freshly failed surfaces through pre-existing rock bridges were relatively rough compared to sections of pre-existing weaker areas of geologically developed (though still incipient) discontinuities. Fractographic features such as hackle and rib marks were typical of the freshly broken rock bridges, whereas opened-up areas of incipient discontinuity were smoother. Schmidt hammer rebound values were generally higher for the rock bridge areas, probably reflecting their lower degree of chemical and physical weathering.

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DEM analysis of rock bridges and the contribution to rock slope stability in the case of translational sliding failures

Cited by 51 publications

References 28 publications

Marine control over negative power law scaling of mass wasting events in chalk sea cliffs with implications for future recession under the UKCP09 medium emission scenario

Marine control over negative power law scaling of mass wasting events in chalk sea cliffs with implications for future recession under the UKCP09 medium emission scenario

Analysis of Progressive Failure Mechanism of Rock Slope with Locked Section Based on Energy Theory

Forensic Excavation of Rock Masses: A Technique to Investigate Discontinuity Persistence

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