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Experimental and numerical study of the mechanism of block–flexure toppling failure in rock slopes

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Abstract

Block-flexure is the commonest mode of toppling failure and can be frequently encountered in anti-inclined rock slopes. In this work, the failure mechanism of block–flexure toppling (BFT) was investigated using centrifugal and numerical models. The numerical model was configured using the Universal Distinct Element Code (UDEC) and calibrated with the results of the centrifuge test. All the simulation results, including the measured displacements, failure load, and failure surface, are generally in line with that of experimental results. Further, the results of simulations show that, well before the appearance of instability in the jointed rock slope, slipping failure and opening fractures had occurred in the interlayer. Moreover, all the acting points of normal forces in steep joints are located between the bottoms and the midpoints of the columns under consideration, in the process of toppling failure. Finally, sensitivity of joint parameters, including the connectivity rate of discontinuous cross-joints, the thickness of the rock column joint, joint friction angle, and joint cohesion, were performed to investigate the effects of the tensile strength of intact rock. The results indicate that joint cohesion and thickness of the rock column greatly influence the failure load (represents safety factor of the slope). The connectivity rates of the discontinuous cross-joints and joint friction angle were found to have significant effects on the shape and location of the basal failure plane. This research would provide a deep understanding on the failure mechanism of BFT for relevant scholars.

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modified from Goodman and Bray 1976)

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Funding

This research was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 12072358 and 11472293), the Science and Technology Research Project of Education Department of Jiangxi Province (Grant No. GJJ200661) and the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangxi, China (Grant No. 20202BABL214051), the Open Research Fund of State Key Laboratory of Geomechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, Institute of Rock and Soil Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (Grant NO. Z020021).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Civil Engineering and Architecture, East China Jiaotong University, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, 330013, China

    Haina Zhang, Xinyang Xu & Haosen Guo

  2. State Key Laboratory of Geomechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, Institute of Rock and Soil Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, Hubei, China

    Haina Zhang, Yun Zheng & Huan Li

  3. Jiangxi Copper Technology Research Institute Co., Ltd. Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330029, China

    Huan Li

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  1. Haina Zhang
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  2. Xinyang Xu
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  3. Yun Zheng
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  4. Huan Li
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  5. Haosen Guo
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Correspondence to Yun Zheng.

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Zhang, H., Xu, X., Zheng, Y. et al. Experimental and numerical study of the mechanism of block–flexure toppling failure in rock slopes. Bull Eng Geol Environ 81, 63 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-021-02562-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-021-02562-2

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