L4 KinematicAnalysis PDF
L4 KinematicAnalysis PDF
L4 KinematicAnalysis PDF
Geotechnical Engineering
Practice & Design
Lecture 4:
Kinematic Analysis
(Wedge Failure)
When considering
different rock mass
failure mechanisms, we
generally distinguish
between those that are
primarily structurally-
controlled and those that
are stress-controlled. Of
course some failure modes
are composites of these
two conditions, and others
may involve the effect of
Martin et al. (1999)
1
Design Challenge: Rock Slope Stabilization
Design: A rock slope with a history of
block failures is to be stabilized
through anchoring.
2
Rock Mass Characterization - Discontinuities
25 m
A B
3
Discontinuity Persistence
Persistence refers to the areal extent or size of a discontinuity plane
within a plane. Clearly, the persistence will have a major influence on the
shear strength developed in the plane of the discontinuity, where the intact
rock segments are referred to as ‘rock bridges’.
rock
bridge
increasing persistence
7 of 56 Erik Eberhardt – UBC Geological Engineering EOSC 433 (2016)
Discontinuity Persistence
Together with spacing, discontinuity persistence helps
to define the size of blocks that can slide from a
rock face. Several procedures have been developed
to calculate persistence by measuring their exposed
trace lengths on a specified area of the face.
4
Discontinuity Persistence
Step 1: define a mapping area on the rock face
Pahl (1981) with dimensions L1 and L2.
L2
Discontinuity Roughness
From the practical point of view
of quantifying joint roughness,
only one technique has received
some degree of universality – the
Joint Roughness Coefficient
(JRC). This method involves
comparing discontinuity surface
profiles to standard roughness
curves assigned numerical values.
Barton & Choubey (1977)
5
Subjectivity in Joint Roughness
6
Discontinuity Data – Probability Distributions
Discontinuity properties can vary over a wide
range, even for those belonging to the same set.
The distribution of a property can be described by
means of a probability distribution function.
Negative
exponential function:
Negative
exponential
function:
1 m
5 m
7
Structurally-Controlled Instability Mechanisms
Structurally-controlled instability means that blocks formed by
discontinuities may be free to either fall or slide from the
excavation periphery under a set of body forces (usually gravity).
To assess the likelihood of such failures, an analysis of the
kinematic admissibility of potential wedges or planes that intersect
the excavation face(s) can be performed.
8
Kinematic Analysis – Rock Slope Wedge Failure
Similar to planar failures, several conditions relating to the line of
intersection must be met for wedge failure to be kinematically
admissible :
slope
faces
Lisle (2004)
daylight
envelopes
9
Kinematic Analysis – Friction Cones
Friction Cone: Zone within which all poles belong
to planes that dip at angles less than the
friction angle, and are therefore stable.
< f
> f
10
Pole Plots - Kinematic Admissibility
daylight
envelope Thus, for poles that plot
inside the daylight envelope,
but outside the friction
circle, translational sliding is
possible.
11
Dilatancy and Shear Strength
In the case of sliding of an
unconstrained block of rock from a
slope, dilatancy will accompany
shearing of all but the smoothest
discontinuity surfaces. If a rock
block is free to dilate, then the
second-order asperities will have a
diminished effect on shear strength.
Wyllie & Mah (2004)
12
Discontinuity Shear Strength - Example
The following tests were obtained in a series of direct shear tests
carried out on 100 mm square specimens of granite containing
clean, rough, dry joints.
13
Discontinuity Shear Strength - Example
+ i
14
Discontinuity Shear Strength - Example
If we were to repeat
this for the residual
r strength values...
Residual Strength
For the residual strength condition, any cohesion is lost once displacement
has broken the cementing action. Also, the residual friction angle is less
than the peak friction angle because the shear displacement grinds the
minor irregularities on the rock surface and produces a smoother, lower
friction surface.
15
Underground Instability Mechanisms
1
Wedge
16
Analysis of Kinematic Admissibility - Sliding
Kinematic analyses first assess whether sliding from the roof will
occur along either a single discontinuity plane (planar failure) or a
line of intersection (wedge failure). The analyses then considers
whether these have a dip greater than the angle of friction.
Hudson & Harrison (1997)
Assuming that each discontinuity plane has the same friction angle, the
sliding direction will occur along a line of maximum dip (either that of a
plane or a line of intersection of two planes). No other part of the
spherical triangle represents a line of steeper dip than these candidates.
17
Geometrical Analysis of Maximum Wedge Volume
Once a series of joint sets have been identified as having wedge
forming potential, several questions arise :
in the case of a falling wedge, how much support will be required to
hold it in place (what kind of loads on the added support can be
expected, how dense will the bolting pattern have to be, etc.);
in the case of a sliding wedge, do the shear stresses exceed the shear
strength along the sliding surface, i.e. that provided by friction and
sometimes cohesion (in the form of intact rock bridges or mineralized
infilling), and if so, how much support will be required to stabilize the
block, how dense will the bolting pattern have to be, etc..
… area of the
maximum key-block
for an underground
opening. 2
1
… “maximum wedge”
formed by multiple
key-blocks
intersecting an
excavation.
Goodman & Shi (1995)
18
Key Block Analysis
The underlying axiom of block theory is that the failure of an excavation
begins at the boundary with the movement of a block into the excavated
space. The loss of the first block augments the space, possibly creating
an opportunity for the failure of additional blocks, with continuing
degradation possibly leading to massive failure.
(Rocscience – Unwedge)
19
Computer-Aided Wedge Analysis in Design
(Rocscience – Unwedge)
Project Details:
Existing bridge (to be replaced)
- built in 1947
- three-span; reinforced concrete
- structurally deficient
- large rock slide in 1998
New bridge
- 230-ft; two span steel bridge Courtesy - B. Fisher (Kleinfelder Inc.)
20
Case History: Rock Slope Stabilization Design
Design: A rock slope with a history of
block failures is to be stabilized
through anchoring.
21
Back Analysis for Forward Analysis
Given:
• Unstable Rock Slope
• 40 ft tall
• About 55 degrees
• Joint Set Dips 38 degrees
• ’ + i ~ 38 - 40 degrees
55 deg slope
22
Case History: Design Assumptions
V 55 deg slope
23
Case History: Rock Slope Stabilization Design
Recommendations:
Lecture References
Barton, NR & Choubey, V (1977). The shear strength of rock joints in theory and practice. Rock
Mechanics 10: 1–54.
Goodman, RE & Shi, GH (1995). Block theory and its application. Géotechnique 45(3): 383-423.
Hoek, E, Kaiser, PK & Bawden, WF (1995). Support of Underground Excavations in Hard Rock.
Balkema: Rotterdam.
Hudson, JA & Harrison, JP (1997). Engineering Rock Mechanics – An Introduction to the Principles .
Elsevier Science: Oxford.
Kaiser, PK, Diederichs, MS, Martin, D, Sharpe, J & Steiner, W (2000). Underground works in
hard rock tunnelling and mining. In Proceedings, GeoEng2000, Melbourne. Technomic Publishing:
Lancaster, pp. 841-926.
Lisle, RJ (2004). Calculation of the daylight envelope for plane failure of rock slopes. Géotechnique
54: 279-280.
Martin, CD, Kaiser, PK & McCreath, DR (1999). Hoek-Brown parameters for predicting the depth
of brittle failure around tunnels. Canadian Geotechnical Journal 36(1): 136-151.
Pahl, PJ (1981). Estimating the mean length of discontinuity traces. International Journal of Rock
Mechanics & Mining Sciences & Geomechanics Abstracts 18: 221-228.
Priest, SD (1985). Hemispherical Projection Methods in Rock Mechanics. George Allen & Unwin:
London.
24
Lecture References
Strouth, A & Eberhardt, E (2006). The use of LiDAR to overcome rock slope hazard data collection
challenges at Afternoon Creek, Washington. In 41st U.S. Symposium on Rock Mechanics: 50 Years of
Rock Mechanics, Golden. American Rock Mechanics Association, CD: 06-993.
Wyllie, DC & Mah, CW (2004). Rock Slope Engineering (4th edition). Spon Press: London.
Wyllie, DC & Norrish, NI (1996). Rock strength properties and their Measurement. In Landslides:
Investigation and Mitigation – Special Report 247. National Academy Press: Washington, D.C., pp. 372-
390.
25