Numerical modeling of buckling rock movement

Abstract

Different modes of rock slope movement have been observed in the field on both anaclinal and cataclinal slopes in sedimentary rocks. In such layered slopes, the orientation of the main set of discontinuities relative to the orientation of the slope face may control the mode of movement. In this paper, buckling movement of layered slopes is examined using the discrete element damage model approach. To simulate the effect of long-term weathering processes that is commonly observed in exposed mountain slopes, only the intact tensile strength is changed, and the impact of this change is tracked. The buckling analyses showed that the tensile strength of the intact layers may be important factor in controlling the stability of such slopes. Moreover, the result also showed that in-situ stress state has a significant effect on the tensile stress at failure.