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Numerical study on flexural toppling failure of rock slopes using the finite discrete element method

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Abstract

Flexural toppling is a quite complex and common failure mode of anti-dip bedding rock slopes (ABRSs), since it involves not only deformation of the intact rock but also sliding or opening of the joint and fracture of the rock layer. In this work, the finite discrete element method (FDEM) was used to study flexural toppling of ABRSs. The feasibility of FDEM to simulate flexural toppling was firstly verified by a model test. Then, parametric studies were carried out using the FDEM to investigate the influence of the angle of the joint, angle of the slope, and thickness of the rock layer on flexural toppling. Moreover, the failure surface of the slope undergoing flexural toppling was discussed. The results indicate that the failure surface may be a simple plane with an angle to the joint normal ranging from 9 to 23°, or it may be a complex stepped form. The depth of the failure surface gradually increased with the increase in the angle of the rock layer. For less stable slopes against flexural toppling, two failure surfaces were formed within the slope, with the deep failure surface approximately parallel to the shallow one. The failure surface does not necessarily pass through the toe of the slope, but may also be located above it.

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The data used to support the findings of this study are available upon request from the corresponding author.

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Acknowledgements

The research was financially supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 12072358), Youth Innovation Promotion Association, CAS (No. 2022333), and Knowledge Innovation Program of Wuhan -Basic Research (No. 2022010801010161).

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Authors and Affiliations

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

    Yun Zheng, Runfu Wu, Runqing Wang & Bin Ma

  2. University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China

    Yun Zheng, Runqing Wang & Bin Ma

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

    Runfu Wu

  4. Faculty of Engineering, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430071, Hubei, China

    Chengzeng Yan

Authors
  1. Yun Zheng
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  2. Runfu Wu
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  5. Bin Ma
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Contributions

Yun Zheng: conceptualization, methodology, writing—original draft, writing—review and editing, supervision, and funding acquisition; Runfu Wu: writing—original draft, data curation, visualization, and investigation; Chengzeng Yan: conceptualization, methodology, writing—review and editing, supervision, and funding acquisition; Runqing Wang: data curation and visualization; and Bin Ma: writing—review and editing.

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Correspondence to Yun Zheng.

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Zheng, Y., Wu, R., Yan, C. et al. Numerical study on flexural toppling failure of rock slopes using the finite discrete element method. Bull Eng Geol Environ 83, 111 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-024-03589-x

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