Influence of tensile strength on toppling failure in centrifuge tests

Abstract

In toppling of rock slopes, thin slabs of rock displace out of the slope, eventually forming a rupture surface. This toppling process involves slip between the thin slabs and tensile rupture across the slabs. A numerical modelling methodology based on a discrete element framework was used to investigate centrifuge model tests of a toppling slope. The methodology, which includes internal flaws in the intact rock slabs, was able to predict the rupture surface inside the rock mass more accurately than is possible with the conventional discrete element method. Also, this modelling approach predicted the horizontal deformation patterns observed in the experimental study. The effect of tensile strength on the flexural toppling failures was investigated to further our understanding of the flexural toppling. The tensile strength was found to be a key factor in this failure mechanism, and the failure load was found to be controlled by the tensile strength. Moreover, the friction angle of the intact rock did not have a significant effect on the toppling failure mechanism.