Exploring joint orientation effects on rock wedge stability: Experimental and discrete element analysis

IF 6.9 1区工程技术 Q1 ENGINEERING, GEOLOGICAL

Engineering Geology Pub Date : 2024-08-21 DOI:10.1016/j.enggeo.2024.107691

Hoang-Khanh Le , Wen-Chao Huang , Po-Hung Hsiao , Pin-Chieh Huang , Meng-Chia Weng , Chih-Chun Chien

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

The primary objective of this study was to examine and analyze the sliding behavior of rock wedge slopes with the interaction of three joint sets, considering the influence of plunge angles, included wedge angles between joints, and gravity conditions. The discontinuity planes with varying dip directions relative to the wedge's plunge direction were analyzed. The stability assessment of wedge failure was initially reviewed, explicitly focusing on limit equilibrium (LE) analysis and in-house physical tests. Centrifuge tests and discrete element analysis using the 3DEC software were then performed to explore the factors influencing the failure characteristics of the slopes. Additionally, two mitigation strategies were proposed to enhance the stability of the rock wedge slopes. The key findings include the significant impact of plunge angle on wedge slope stability compared to the included wedge angle between joints, the strong effect of gravitational conditions on the collapsing ratio of wedge units, and the higher risk posed by wedge slopes with discontinuity planes dipping out of the slope. The numerical simulation results highlighted the importance of considering joint spacing in slope stability assessments. Mitigation methods such as fixing key wedge blocks were found to effectively reduce the wedge collapsing ratio and improve rock slope stability under more realistic stress levels. This study provides valuable insights for formulating prevention and mitigation strategies, useful for enhancing safety and reducing the potential damage caused by rock wedge failure events.

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探索节理方向对岩楔稳定性的影响：实验和离散元素分析

本研究的主要目的是研究和分析岩石楔形斜坡在三组节理相互作用下的滑动行为，同时考虑到倾角、节理之间的楔角和重力条件的影响。分析了相对于楔形斜面倾角方向不同的不连续面。对楔形破坏的稳定性评估进行了初步审查，明确侧重于极限平衡 (LE) 分析和内部物理试验。然后，利用 3DEC 软件进行了离心试验和离散元素分析，以探索影响斜坡破坏特征的因素。此外，还提出了两种缓解策略，以增强岩楔斜坡的稳定性。主要研究结果包括：与节理之间的楔角相比，楔角对楔形斜坡稳定性的影响很大；重力条件对楔形单元坍塌率的影响很大；不连续面斜出斜坡的楔形斜坡风险更大。数值模拟结果凸显了在斜坡稳定性评估中考虑接缝间距的重要性。研究发现，在更真实的应力水平下，固定关键楔块等缓解方法可有效降低楔块崩塌率，改善岩石边坡稳定性。这项研究为制定预防和缓解策略提供了宝贵的见解，有助于提高安全性和减少岩石楔形崩塌事件造成的潜在破坏。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Engineering Geology 地学-地球科学综合

CiteScore

13.70

自引率

12.20%

发文量

327

审稿时长

5.6 months

期刊介绍： Engineering Geology, an international interdisciplinary journal, serves as a bridge between earth sciences and engineering, focusing on geological and geotechnical engineering. It welcomes studies with relevance to engineering, environmental concerns, and safety, catering to engineering geologists with backgrounds in geology or civil/mining engineering. Topics include applied geomorphology, structural geology, geophysics, geochemistry, environmental geology, hydrogeology, land use planning, natural hazards, remote sensing, soil and rock mechanics, and applied geotechnical engineering. The journal provides a platform for research at the intersection of geology and engineering disciplines.