UDEC-based stability analysis of jointed bedding slope and slope parameter optimization suggestions: a case study
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UDEC-based stability analysis of jointed bedding slope and slope parameter optimization suggestions: a case study Moses Kalililo1 · Yuanyou Xia1 Received: 27 May 2020 / Accepted: 21 October 2020 © Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
Abstract The major hazard in open pit mining is ground movement resulting from the instability of the mining slopes. Among the factors that influence slope instability, external loads from earthquake and rainfall are of serious concern. In this paper, the conventional and numerical methods of slope stability study have been used to investigate the stability of the designed mining slopes and subsequent optimization of the slope parameters at Tanjiashan mine in P.R. China. The mine is on a rugged terrain with complex geology having bedded rock strata with highly developed joints. The simulation to understand the stability of the overall slope (before and after mining) was explored using UDEC software by considering four working conditions: natural, natural + earthquake, heavy rainfall, and heavy rainfall + earthquake. Rocscience DIPS software was used for the kinematic feasibility study to determine the failure mechanisms in the slope forming rock masses. SLIDE and SWEDGE software were used to determine the factor of safety for expected sliding and wedge sliding blocks and subsequent optimization of step slope angles in the different slope forming rock masses. It was established that the overall natural slope is stable. However, the overall mining slope is not stable due to the steepness of the step slopes which allow for the bedding planes (planes of weakness) to daylight on the slope faces. The compression shear bi-planar sliding is the potential failure mechanism. The optimization of the step slopes angles by rock formation resolved the instability problem on the overall mining slope. Keywords Open pit mine · Bedding slope · Slope stability · Slope parameter optimization · UDEC
1 Introduction Mined slopes in mountainous terrains are usually liable to instability owing to variation in the geology of the slope forming material and external factors induced by the environment such as seismic activities and rain water into the slope. The strength parameters of the slope material and the presence of discontinuities play a significant role in the instability of the mined slopes. Additionally, the geometrical characteristics of mined slopes such as face angle and slope height have also a controlling role in the stability of mined slopes [1].
Several methods of evaluating the stability of slopes have been devised over the years. There are basically four categories of methods that can be applied on slope stability study. The categories include the following: kinematic analysis, limit equilibrium, empirical, and numerical simulation methods. The reliability of the results of any slope stability study is highly dependent on the choice of the analysis method as well as the software used. Each of the methods available for slope stability analysis has certain merits and demerits; hence, the gov
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