ÉCOLE POLYTECHNIQUE

Stability of rock blocks

FÉDÉRALE DE LAUSANNE
E P F L - LM R

1. Stability of one block

Stability of rock blocks 2. Stability of a column

3. Stability of two blocks

V. Labiouse, J. Abbruzzese 4. Stability of several blocks (fauchage)

LMR
LABORATOIRE DE
MÉCANIQUE DES ROCHES
5. Influence of water on slope stability
Rock mechanics

Sliding stability Sliding stability

of a block of a block
b E P F L - LM R b E P F L - LM R
h h

W sin β τres = σ tan ϕ + c* W sin β

β W cos β β W cos β
β β
Stable if
W σ = N/A = W cos β /A W τsol < τres = σ tan ϕ + c*
τsol = T/A = W sin β /A W sin β /A < (W cos β /A) tan ϕ + c*

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 Sliding stability Sliding of a block
of a block on a smooth plane (c* = 0)
E P F L - LM R E P F L - LM R

Safety Factor with respect to sliding : Stability limit

τ res σ ⋅ tan ϕ + c∗ b h
Fs = = β=ϕ
τsol τsol Stable

W cos β ⋅ tan ϕ + c∗ ϕ β β<ϕ

Fs = A β W
W sin β β>ϕ
A ∗
tan ϕ c ⋅ A β
Fs = + Sliding ϕ
tan β W sin β β
ϕ

Sliding of a block Toppling stability of a block

on a smooth plane (c* = 0)
E P F L - LM R E P F L - LM R

tan ϕ Mdestabilizing,0 = W sin β h/2. b

b/h Mstabilizing,0 = W cos β . b/2
h
Stable Sliding Stable if
Μdestab,0 < Μstab,0 W sin β
tan β < b/h β
β<ϕ β>ϕ Toppling instability occurs if the
W cos β
0
direction line of the weight vector W

tan β
intersects the slope surface beyond
the base of the column.
β W

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 Toppling stability of a block Toppling stability of a block
E P F L - LM R E P F L - LM R

b Stability limit
Stable

h b/h = tan β b/h > tan β

Safety Factor with W sin β b
respect to toppling : β
M stab,0 b β b/h < tan β h
Fs = =
M déstab,0 h tan β W cos β β
Toppling
β W β

Toppling stability of a block Sliding and toppling stability of

a block on a smooth plane (c* = 0)
tan ϕ
E P F L - LM R E P F L - LM R
β

β
Sliding
b/h b/h > tan β b/h
n

n
ta

ta
h=

h=
Stable
b/

b/
Toppling Sliding
Stable and
Toppling

b/h < tan β

tan β Toppling
tan β

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 Sliding stability of a column Toppling stability of a column
E P F L - LM R E P F L - LM R

Safety Factor with respect to sliding : Safety Factor with respect to toppling :

tan ϕ c∗ ⋅ A Fs =
M stab
=
b CG
Fs = +
CG
tan β W sin β
CG
M déstab h CG tan β
hCG
W

A Toppling instability occurs if the

direction line of the weight vector W
β τres = σ tan ϕ + c* β bCG intersects the slope surface beyond
the base of the column.

Sliding and toppling stability of

Stability of two blocks
rock columns
E P F L - LM R E P F L - LM R

Stability of the
two blocks

Toppling and
sliding
Toppling of the
two blocks

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 The « fauchage » Toppling in layered or
fractured rocks Pressure distributions for allowed seepage
phenomenon characterized by a
system steeply dipping
into the slope E P F L - LM R E P F L - LM R

Hypotheses:
1. Hydrostatic along the
rear fracture b
2. Flow with constant V
gradient in the basal
discontinuity
u = γw h cos β u
u0 = 0 h 0
U
V = ½ γw h2 cos β β
U = ½ γw h b cos β

Sliding stability for allowed seepage Toppling stability for allowed seepage
E P F L - LM R E P F L - LM R

Stable if τsol < τres Mdestabilizing,0 = W sin β h/2 + V. h/3 + U. 2b/3

.

τres = σ´ tan ϕ + c* b Mstabilizing,0 = W cos β . b/2

V b V
σ´ = N/A β β
sin sin
τsol = T/A W W
Stable if
N = W cos β - U h h
0
U Μdestab,0 < Μstab,0 0
U
T = W sin β + V β β
W cos β W cos β
Æ Stability highly endangered W Æ Stability highly endangered W

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Pressure distributions if no outflow possible ÉCOLE POLYTECHNIQUE
FÉDÉRALE DE LAUSANNE
E P F L - LM R

Hypotheses:
1. Hydrostatic along the
rear fracture b
2. No outflow at the toe of V
the basal discontinuity Plane slide
u = γw h cos β
u
u0 = γw (h cos β + b sin β)
h 0
V. Labiouse, J. Abbruzzese
V = ½ γw h2 cos β β LMR
U = ½ γw b (2h cos β + b sin β) U LABORATOIRE DE
MÉCANIQUE DES ROCHES
Rock mechanics

Plane slide on the D526 road

Stability of a plane slide
connecting Mens and Clelles (Isère – France)
E P F L - LM R E P F L - LM R

1. Kinematical conditions
2. Sliding along a plane
3. Sliding along a plane, with a rear tension crack
4. Stabilising measures
¾ Control of water
¾ Pre-tense anchors (active)
¾ Grouted bar bolts (passive) http://www.irma-grenoble.com/

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 Plane slide in layered rocks
When is a sliding mechanism possible ?
in Sylans (France)
E P F L - LM R E P F L - LM R

example
for plane sliding

Yes No

automatic detection of potential

No No sliding planes, based on the use
of DTM25.

Slide on a single plane joint: dry slope Slide on a single plane joint: role of water
E P F L - LM R E P F L - LM R

Factor of safety: U = resultant of the

FS =
max. shear strength
applied shear stress
W sin β
- max. shear strength:
τres = σ´ tan ϕ + c*
= (N/A) tanϕ
- applied shear stress:
τsol = (T/A) = W/A sin β
W cos β ⋅ tan ϕ tan ϕ
FS = = τ = (T/A) = W/A sin β
W sin β tan β
pore water pressure
distribution, as a
W sin β
function of the
L hydraulic conditions Hw L
β
β W cos β β W cos β
τres = (σ - u) tan ϕ
W τres =[ (Wcosβ-U)/Α ] tanϕ W U
A = L x 1 (m)
σ´= (N/A) = W/A cos β (W cos β − U ) ⋅ tan ϕ Æ The maximum shear
FS = strength on the failure
c*= 0 W sin β surface is reduced

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 Slide on a single joint (with tension crack) Slide on a single joint (with tension crack)
E P F L - LM R E P F L - LM R

Seepage allowed Seepage allowed

Actions due to water presence: V hw V hw
stability against sliding W sin β
1. Hydrostatic pressure in
the tension crack; W sin β ↑ : Ν = W cosβ – U – V sinβ u
2. Seepage through u L
the joint at the base. L ← : Τ = W sinβ + V cosβ β W cos β
U
Æ at the toe of the tension crack: W cos β W
β (W cos β − U − V sin β) tan ϕ + c * ⋅A
u = γw hw
W U FS =
W sin β + V cos β
1 1
V = γ w h 2w U = γw hw L Shear strength reduced and applied forces increased
2 2 Æ stability highly endangered.

Slide on a single joint (with tension crack) Methods to control water in jointed rock slopes
E P F L - LM R E P F L - LM R

No outflow possible (at 0)

Actions due to water presence: V hw 1. Surface drainage
(cut-off ditch) 1.
1. Hydrostatic pressure in 2.
the tension crack; W sin β 2. Pumping from wells
2. No water flow; Hydrostatic u 3. Gravity drainage of
pressure in the failure plane. L the rear tension crack
4. Gravity drainage of
Æ at the toe 0 of the basal plane:
0 β W cos β the basal plane 3.
u = γw (hw+ L sinβ)
W U 5. Drainage gallery and
radial drains 4.

1 γ L (2h w + L sin β )
V = γ w h 2w U= w
2 2

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 Support methods: active measures Support methods: active measures
E P F L - LM R
Pa sin(β + γ) E P F L - LM R

Pre-tension active anchors Pa

γ V
β
Pa cos(β + γ)
W sin β
W cos β
β β
W U
Free length Fixed anchor length
↑ : Ν = Wcosβ - U - Vsinβ + Pa sin(β + γ)

Spiral winding cables or rods

Grouted zone ← : Τ = Wsinβ + Vcosβ - Pa cos(β + γ)

Support methods: active measures Support methods: passive measures

Pa sin(β + γ) E P F L - LM R E P F L - LM R

Pa Grouted bolts
γ V Grouting all along the bar’s length

β
Pa cos(β + γ)
W sin β
Thread bar Grouted zone

The pre-tension of anchors Passive anchors increase

W cos β the rock mass cohesion
both increases N and
decreases T, thus improving β (Bjurström, 1974): β
the stability of the slope. W U Sa = area of bar’s transversal section
S σc S = area of the surface reinforced by bolts
(W cos β − U − V sin β + Pa sin (β + γ )) tan ϕ Ca = a τa τa = shear strength of the bar (τa ≈ 0.6 σf)
FS = S σf σc = rock’s compressive strength
W sin β + V cos β − Pa cos(β + γ ) σf = yielding stress of the bar’s material (steel)
! Take care that there is also tension in the bolts in addition to bending and shear stresses…

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 Support methods: passive measures Support methods: passive measures
E P F L - LM R E P F L - LM R

N tan ϕ + c * ⋅ S + c a ⋅ S
FS = V V
T
W sin β W sin β
! either c*·S or ca·S
(do not add contributions)

W cos β N tan ϕ + c * ⋅ S W cos β

β FS =
W U
↑ : Ν = Wcosβ - U - Vsinβ
FS =
← : Τ = Wsinβ + Vcosβ
β
T W U
(W cos β − U − V sin β) tan ϕ + Ca ⋅ S
W sin β + V cos β

ÉCOLE POLYTECHNIQUE
FÉDÉRALE DE LAUSANNE
E P F L - LM R

Wedge slide Wedge slide above the

road of Cogne (Italy)

V. Labiouse, J. Abbruzzese Wedge sliding on

LMR
two intersecting
discontinuities

LABORATOIRE DE
MÉCANIQUE DES ROCHES http://www.crealp.ch/
Rock mechanics

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 Wedge sliding stability Wedge sliding stability

S2
E P F L - LM R E P F L - LM R
S1
Sliding failure of a rock
S1
i S2 wedge on the S1 and S2 i W sin β N1 n
planes, which define an W cos β θ1
N2
n θ2
intersection line in i direction. n h
h W β W cos β
Vertical plane Transverse section to i direction
Solving the equilibrium equations in the h, i and n directions:
S1 S2
N1 tan ϕ1 + N 2 tan ϕ2 + c1* ⋅ S1 + c*2 ⋅ S2
i W sin β N1 n FS =
W cos β θ1 θ2
N2 W sin β
n h W cos β ⋅ sin θ2 W cos β ⋅ sin θ1
W β W cos β N1 = N2 =
sin ( θ1 + θ 2 ) sin ( θ1 + θ2 )

Wedge stability higher than plane failure

E P F L - LM R

For example: if c1*=c2*=0 (smooth joints)

and ϕ1= ϕ2= ϕ

tan ϕ
FS = K
tan β
Wedge factor K

with K : wedge factor

sin θ1 + sin θ2
K=
sin ( θ1 + θ2 )

Aperture angle of the wedge ω

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