Lee, J. S. et al., Rock cut slope stability analysis in Sinpal-Ildong region using Distinct Element Method.

ISRM 2003Technology roadmap for rock mechanics, South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 2003.

Rock cut slope stability analysis in Sinpal-Ildong region using distinct element method
Ji Soo Lee*, Jong Hyun Rhee**, Hyuck Jin Park*, Ho Bon Ku**, Buhm Soo Jang* * Korea Infrastructure Safety and Technology Corporation ** Korea Institute of Construction Technology
A large wedge failure had occurred in the study area which was under construction. Therefore, in order to analyze the potential instability for this rock slope, the authors conducted numerical analysis with DEM and then the behaviour of rock mass was analysed after appropriate reinforcements were applied. Ein groer Keildefekt geschah in dem Untersuchungsgebiet, das im Bau befindlich ist. Deshalb, um die potentielle Unbestndigkeit fr diesen Felsenabhang zu analysieren, fhren die Urheber zahlenmige Analyse mit DEM. Und dann wird die Bewegung der Felsenmasse analysiert, nachdem angemessene Verstrkungstruppen angewandt werden. Un grand chec de coin sst pass dans le rgion tudi qui tait en construction. Par consquent afin danalyser linstabilit potentielle de cette pente de roches, les auteurs ont men une analyse numrique avec DEM. Ensuite le comportement de la masse de roches pourrait tre analyse aprs les renforts appropris taient appliqus.

Introduction
In case of rock slope, especially, the careful consideration of the orientation and physical properties of discontinuities such as joint, bedding and fault in rock mass is essential because the stability of rock slope mostly depends on those factors (Lee et al, 2001). Rockslide occurred in some parts of unexpected rock mass covered with weathered soil in Sinpal-Ildong road expansion construction. Therefore, if the construction is finished based on the original design, additional slope failure is expected.

The large wedge failure has occurred in a rock slope, whose slope angle is 48~55 in Sinpal-Ildong area. The slope was composed of coarse granite, which is highly weathered to completely weathered, and a few minor faults are founded. The slope is 110m in length, about 23m in height, 48~55/245~260 of orientation and have 4 benches (Figure 1). The failure, occurred in 50 60m section of the slope, was caused by the fault whose orientation is 67/310 and tension crack which had a width of 1.5 2m above failure. That is, the fault, accelerated weathering process of the neighbouring rock mass, and then caused a loss of sustaining ability. After all, it affected to the upper parts of the third bench and caused a tension crack resulting in wedge failure. The authors performed stability analysis for failure section using a distinct element method in order to analyze the rock slope stability.

Site investigation

Figure 1. Face mapping of the study area 753

Rock slope stability analysis

RMR (Rock Mass Rating) & SMR (Slope Mass Rating) As a result of RMR (Bieniawski, 1976) and SMR (Romana, 1993) for the study area, this slope belongs to class IV and that value is 39.2 (Table 1). The class IV of SMR means the instability of rock mass and slope stability, and according to Romana (1993), planar failure and large wedge failure as failure type can occur and thus, extensive reinforcement is needed as support system for this condition. This result is corresponding with the condition of this study area that wedge failure already occurred and this slope is potentially unstable in current condition. Figure 2. Wedge failure analysis (unstable) Table 1. RMR and SMR classification of jointed rock mass Contents Condition Rating Uniaxial compressive strength (MPa) R.Q.D (%) Joint Spacing (m) Persistence (m) Separation (mm) Joint Roughness condition Filling 35.0 3.9 10.9 6.4 3.0 1.0 1.0 2.0 1.0 10.0 39.2 0.2 1.0 0.0 0.0 39.2

54.5 0.1 6.0 2.0 RMR Smooth Soft Highly Weathering weathered Groundwater Damp Grade IV (Poor) F1 20 F2 56 SMR F3 8 F4 Blasting SMR Class RMR + (F1F2F3) + F4 IV (Poor)

Figure 3. Planar failure analysis (unstable) When cut angle is 40 (after additional cut) As a result of the numerical analysis performed by decreasing cut angle from 55 to 35, when the cut angle of this slope is decreased to 40 by additional cut, the authors can evaluate that this slope is stable for the possibility of wedge (Figure 4) and planar failure (Figure 5).

Kinematic slope stability analysis When the slope was cut by 55 (by original design) The authors conducted the stability analysis for the condition of original design. This is because the failure of this slope was occurred at the cut angle of 55. As a result of wedge failure analysis performed by stereo net projection method, the orientation of discontinuities developed in this slope shows the possibility of wedge failure. That is, the intersection line with 38/217 made by set1 (56/276) and set2 (38/224) locates in wedge failure zone on the equal area stereo net for lower reference hemisphere (Figure 2). And, the pole of set2 (38/224) locates in planar failure zone in planar failure analysis (Figure 3).

Figure 4. Wedge failure analysis after 2nd cut (stable)

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In Figure 6, the maximum shear displacement was estimated about 2.1cm and the maximum velocity vectors were estimated about 10 m/s. This result represents instability of this slope and is coincident with the current state of this slope that a failure was occurred. Figure7 showed plasticity area of this state, plastic zones where a tensile failure occurred in 149 zones, is distributed in a failure region. Therefore, the authors evaluate that this slope is unstable based on the results of site investigation and stability analysis. After Reinforcements Additional cut The authors evaluate a stability of this slope using numerical analysis method by diminishing cut gradient from 55 to 35 and by adopting rock anchor. As a result, the cut gradient of 40 was relatively stable for the unstable failure slope and figure8 is cross section for that condition. Figure9 shows that the maximum shear displacement occurred at about 0.85 cm when cut angle was decreased to 40.

Figure 5. Planar failure analysis after 2nd cut (stable)

DEM analysis When the slope was cut by 55 (by original design)

Figure 6. Shear displacement and velocity vectors for 1st cut

Figure 8. Cross section for 2nd cut

Figure 7. Distribution of plastic zones for 1st cut

Figure 9. Shear displacement and velocity vectors for 2nd cut

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 Additional cut and application of rock anchor The maximum shear displacement became decreased from 2.1 cm to 0.85 cm when the slope is completely dry state. However, if pore pressure due to heavy rain can result in discontinuities, it may bring about a substantial instability. Therefore, as a result of reducing cut gradient and adopting anchors for reinforcements (Figure 10), the maximum shear displacement decreased to about 0.12 mm, the maximum velocity vectors also decreased to about 2.210-7 m/s. Besides, Figure 11 indicates that the number of plastic zones occurred the tensile failure of this state is 0. That is, the zones which represent tensile failure distributed in a failure region were eliminated. Consequently, this slope is required to additional cut and rock anchors to stabilize.

tion method and conducted numerical analysis for stress redistribution and non-linear shear behaviour according to cut by using DEM. For this slope, the value of SMR is 39.2 and belongs to class IV which means the instability of slope. And also, the result of stereo net projection method shows that this slope is unstable because not only the intersection line for wedge failure analysis, but also the pole for planar failure analysis are plotted in instability zone. Therefore, the authors judged that the cut gradient of 55 for this slope isnt proper and then conducted the decrease of cut gradient to 40 and the application of rock anchor by DEM. By doing so, the maximum shear displacement is decreased from about 2.1 cm to about 0.12 mm, and the maximum velocity vectors are also decreased from about 10 m/s to about 2.210-7 m/s. Namely, the number of plastic zones, where a tensile failure occurred 149 is completely decreased to 0 and consequently the authors can consider this slope is stable. As stated above, this slope which has a failure history is unstable as a result of slope stability analyses, and therefore the authors propose the decrease of cut gradient from 55 to 40 and the application of rock anchors as reinforcements for a stabilization plan considering geological condition and discontinuity geometry of this slope. However, this analysis is based on the dry condition of the slope. Hence further study is needed for considering the effect of pore pressure in discontinuities due to heavy rain.

Figure 10. Shear displacement and velocity vectors after rock anchor

References
Bieniawski, Z.T. 1976. Rock mass classification in rock engineering. In Proc. Symp. Exploration for Rock Eng. Vol. 1, Balkema, Rotterdam, p. 97-106. Lee, J.S., Park, H.J., Min, K.D., and Koo, H.B. 2001. Rock Slope Stability Analysis in Boeun Region Considering Properties of Discontinuities, Korea Society of Economic and Environmental Geology, Korean Ed., Vol.34, No.6, p. 601-615. Romana, M.R. 1993. A geomechanical classification for slopes: Slope Mass Rating. Comprehensive Rock Engineering. Vol.3, p. 575-601. Itasca Consulting Group Inc. 1996. UDEC Users Manual, Ver 3.0.

Figure 11. Distribution plastic zones after rock anchor

Conclusion and discussion

The large wedge failure was occurred in 50~60 m section which was belonged to this study slope with the cut gradient of 55 in Sinpal-Ildong road expansion construction. Therefore, the authors conducted geometric slope stability analysis for this slope by using SMR and stereo net projec-

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