Multi-scale analysis of water alteration on the rockslope stability framework

Abstract

ABSTRACT:Water is an important weathering factor on rock discontinuities and in rock mass mechanical behavior. The increase of rainfall in frequency or in intensity highlights some problems on the rock slope stability analysis. The aim of this paper is the multi scale analysis of the chemical impact of water on rock (surface roughness and matrix). In this study we show how water induces degradation and thus may decreases the stability of the discontinuous rock mass. Water is known to have significant erosion and dissolution effects on rock surface or rock matrix. The chemical features of water such as temperature, pH or salinity make it a "good" candidate to rock degradation. This study has two main components. The first one is the study of water-solid chemical mechanisms and the other is the analysis of the mechanical response of the discontinuity modified by the water alteration. The stability of the rock mass is naturally a function of the type and the space distribution of discontinuities. The study aims also to evaluate the effect of water flow on the rock slope stability and it is performed at two space scales: laboratory (micro scale and macro scale) and in situ scales. The last one is still under investigation and will be presented.

On the main components of landscape evolution modelling of river systems

“…In addition, changes in height due to compaction/expansion of the underlying soil are generally ignored, as well as variations in the thickness of the soil layer. This latter hypothesis means that effects like the dependence of sediment transport rate on the regolith thickness (Carson and Kirkby 1972;Kirkby 1992;Braun et al 2001;Skinner et al 2018), the feedbacks between soil water storage capacity, the run-off generation and its effective rate or the weathering and sediment transport processes (Kirkby 1976;Saco et al 2006;Dochez et al 2014) are ignored. On the other part, assuming that a contact between the loose, mobile regolith and the underlying rock exists, provides a slightly more complete approach, but still many (Ahnert 1976(Ahnert , 1987Heimsath et al 2001;Strudley et al 2006).…”

Uniaxial compression mechanical properties and damage constitutive model of limestone under osmotic pressure

“…In terms of the water-rock physicochemical reaction, Skempton (1984) analyzed the influence of water on the stress release process of sandstone, and proposed that the most concentrated reflection of seepage water on rock mass degradation is its impact on the damage mechanics properties of rock mass. Dochez et al (2014) studied the influence of water on the stability of rock slope from the micro and macro scales by conducting in-situ tests and laboratory tests. The results showed that the degradation degree of rock by dynamic water is obviously stronger than that by static water, and the water rock alteration rate is faster.…”

Experimental investigation on uniaxial compressive mechanical characteristics of red-sandstone containing single fissure after rainfall infiltration

“…In order to assessing the potential engineering hazards with this kind of rock mass under water environment effectively, it is very necessary to investigate the effect of water on the mechanical properties of fissure flawed red-sandstone. Some scholars have studied the effect of water content on the mechanical properties of different types of rock (Shi et al 2016;Wong et al 2016;Wang et al 2015;Yao et al 2015;Dochez et al 2014;Zhang et al 2014). In recent years, Responsible Editor: Zeynal Abiddin Erguler researchers have made gratifying progress in the mechanical properties of intact or flawed red-sandstone exposed to water and obtained some useful conclusions.…”