Int. J. Rock Mech. Min. Sci. & Geomech. Abstr.Vol.33, No. 4, pp.

405-407, 1996
Pergamon
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Technical Note
Kinematic Analysis of Active/Passive Wedge Failure Using
Stereographic Projection
C. P. N A T H A N A I L t

INTRODUCTION two-dimensional case and ignore the influence of lateral

release surfaces [8, 9]. Although developed for the analy-
This technical note presents a method for assessing the
sis of clay-cored embankment dams [8], the failure model
kinematic feasibility of active/passive wedge failures
has applications in rock slopes [9].
in order to increase awareness of this failure mode and
to provide a simple tool for its assessment. An
active/passive wedge failure involves three surfaces
defining two wedges. The upper, active wedge moves GEOLOGICAL SCENARIOS
downwards and forces the lower, passive wedge out-
There are several geological scenarios in which ac-
wards. A stereographic projection overlay is used to
tive/passive wedge failure may be feasible. The simplest
evaluate three criteria that need to be fulfilled to estab-
lish the kinematic feasibility of active/passive wedge uppecmee
failure.

FAILURE MECHANISMS IN BRITISH OPENCAST

COAL MINES
Several studies into the type of failures that have taken
place in British opencast coal sites have been carried Fig. 1. Geometry of active/passive wedge failure mechanism.
out [1-6]. The most commonly recorded failure
modes are biplanar, multiplanar and planar. Failures in
opencast coal sites frequently show facets of more than
one failure mode and may evolve from one to another. /'~ Active/ ~/////
The frequency with which a particular failure mode
is cited, therefore, may be as much to do with awareness
of the various models of failure in rock slopes and /
the ease with which they may be assessed as with the
actual conditions in a given slope. This technical note
presents the method for assessing the kinematic feasi-
// _
bility of active/passage wedge failures developed by
Nathanail [7]. Fig. 2. Geologicalscenario favourablefor active/passivewedge failure
in faulted strata.

ACTIVE/PASSIVE WEDGE FAILURE

//• Active
An active/passive wedge failure involves three surfaces / w Qo IIII
defining two wedges (Fig. 1). The upper, active wedge JJl
moves downwards and forces the lower, passive wedge / Pas~ve % //Jr
outwards. Published methods of analysis discuss the

?Centre for Research into the Built Environment, The Nottingham Fig. 3. Geologicalscenario favourablefor active/passivewedge failure
Trent University, Burton Street, Nottingham NG1 4BU, U.K. in folded strata.
405
 406 NATHANAIL: TECHNICAL NOTE

+20
%

Azimuth of
dedgn slope

-20 -20

Instability criteria:
1 loweredge of active wedge dips steeper than lower edge of passive wedge, V~

2 lower edge of passive wedge daylights in lower face and dips less than friction angle, q)

== 3 plane separating two wedges dips steeply into face

(Numbers refer to planes in Fig. 3)

Fig. 4. Active/passive wedge stability assessment overlay.

scenario is where one surface, say the lowest, is a bedding
plane and the other two are persistent joints. In the case
of tightly folded strata, the fold limbs can form the outer
boundaries of the wedges while crushed material in the
core of the fold can form the inter-wedge surface (Fig.
2). Where a fault cuts bedding at a high angle, bedding
on either side of the fault may form the outer boundaries
of the wedges and the fault plane their inter-wedge
surface (Fig. 3).
KINEMATIC FEASIBILITY O F ACTIVE/PASSIVE
WEDGE FAILURE
A stability assessment overlay, similar to those pro-
posed by Matheson [10] for other failure modes, is
proposed to evaluate the kinematic feasibility of ac-
tive/passive wedge failure (Fig. 4). The overlay is
superimposed on to a stereographic projection of the
poles to discontinuities. Three criteria need to be ful-
filled. First, the lower edge of the active wedge (sur-
face 1 in Fig. 1) should dip more steeply than that
of the lower wedge (surface 2 in Fig. 1). Second,
surface 2 should daylight in the lower face of the
slope and dip at an angle less than the shearing re-
sistance (otherwise plane failure of the passive wedge
is kinematically feasible). Third, the plane separating
the two wedges should dip steeply into the slope. If
this plane were dipping steeply out of the face, then
a non-circular failure of the passive wedge alone
would be possible and the method of analysis pro-
posed by Janbu [11] should be used. For the criteria
to be fulfilled, poles must lie within each of the three
shaded areas in Fig. 4.
Figure 5 shows a potential active/passive wedge failure
in a quarry slope. The two wedges are separated from the
 NATHANAIL: TECHNICAL NOTE 407

Acknowledgements--The author acknowledges the financial support of

Wimpey Environmental and the logistical support of Wimpey Mining
during the research programme of which this contribution is but a
small part.

Accepted for publication 15 November 1995.

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