RocPlane

Planar sliding stability analysis for rock slopes

Theory Manual

2001 Rocscience Inc.

 PLANAR FAILURE
Geometry No Tension Crack

Known Parameters: Unknown Parameters:

H = Slope Height B = intersection point, slope & bench
= Slope Dip C = intersection point, failure plane & bench
= Failure Plane Dip N = slope length, origin ! B
= Upper Bench Dip M = bench length, B! C
O = Origin (0,0) L = failure plane length, origin ! C
= Rock Unit Weight A = wedge area
W = wedge weight

H
N= [1]
sin
B = {N cos , H } = {H cot , H } [2]

To solve for distances L&M, use vector addition:

OB + BC = OC
H cot M cos L cos
+ =
H M sin L sin
This gives two equations:
H cot + M cos = L cos [3]
H + M sin = L sin [4]

From equations [4]:

L sin H
M = [5]
sin

Substituting [5] into [3]:

H cot + ( L sin H ) cot = L cos
H (cot cot ) = L(cos sin cot )
H (1 cot tan )
L= [6]
sin cos tan

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 PLANAR FAILURE
From equation [3]:
L cos H cot
M = [7]
cos

To calculate L and M, use equations [6] & [7]. Do not use equation [5]
because = 0 is common & M is irresolvable using [5].

C = {L cos , L sin } [8]

Area Calculation:
1
A= BC
2
1
A = Bx C y B y C x [9]
2
W = A [10]

Flow Chart:

1. Solve for N (eq. [1])

2. Solve for B (eq. [2])
3. Solve for L (eq. [6])
4. Solve for M (eq. [7])
5. Solve for C (eq. [8])
6. Solve for A (eq. [9])
7. Solve for W (eq. [10])

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 PLANAR FAILURE

Water Forces No Tension Crack

Case 1: Maximum Pressure Mid Height

0 Zw L sin
Zw
Lw = wetted length =
sin
P = Maximum water pressure
1
= Z w w
2

1 11 Z
U = water force = P Lw = Z w w w
2 22 sin
Zw w
2

U = [11]
4 sin

Case 2: Maximum Pressure at Toe

Zw
Lw =
sin
P = Z w

Z
P Lw = ( Z w ) w
1 1
U=
2 2 sin
Z w
2

U= w [12]
2 sin

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 PLANAR FAILURE
Geometry Tension Crack

Known Parameters: Unknown Parameters:

H = Slope Height B = Slope/Bench intersection point
= Slope Dip C = Tension Crack/Bench intersection point
= Failure Plane Dip D = Failure Plane/Tension Crack
intersection point
= Upper Bench Dip N = Slope Length, O ! B
T = Tension Crack Distance M = Bench Length, B ! C
= Tension Crack Dip L = Failure Plane Length, O ! D
O = Origin (0,0) Q = Tension Crack Length, D ! C
= Rock Unit Weight A = Wedge Area
W = Wedge Weight

As in the no tension crack case:

H
N=
sin
B = {H cot , H }

Now,
C = B + {T ,T tan } [13]
T
M = [14]
cos

Lets solve for D,Q,L:

D = C {Q cos , Q sin } [15]

D = {L cos , L sin } [16]

Equate equations [15]&[16]:

{C x , C y } {Q cos , Q sin } = {L cos , L sin }

C x Q cos
or L= [17]
cos

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 PLANAR FAILURE
C y Q sin
and L= [18]
sin
Equate equations [17]&[18] and solve for Q:
C y cot C x
Q= [19]
sin cot cos

Area Calculation:
1 1
A= B D + ( D B ) (C B )
2 2
1 1
A = B x D y B y D x + ( D x B x )(C y B y ) ( D y B y )(C x B x ) [20]
2 2

W = A

Flow Chart:

1. Solve for N (eq. [1])

2. Solve for B (eq. [2])
3. Solve for C (eq. [13])
4. Solve for M (eq. [14])
5. Solve for Q (eq. [19])
6. Solve for L (eq. [17])
7. Solve for D (eq. [16])
8. Solve for A (eq. [20])
9. Solve for W (eq. [10])

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 PLANAR FAILURE
Water Forces Tension Crack
Case 1: Maximum Pressure Mid Height

Zt = Zw Zf
Zf = Dy = L sin
U = Water force on failure plane
V = Water force on tension crack

Type A. If Zw Zf
Z w
2

U= w ; V = 0 [20]
4 sin

Type B. If Zw > Zf and Zw/2 < Zf

Zw
L1 =
2 sin
L2 = L L1
1
P1 = Z w w
2
[21]
P2 = w Z t
1 1
U = P1 L1 + ( P1 + P2 ) L2
2 2
Z w
2

V = t
2 sin

Type C. If Zw > Zf and Zw/2 Zf

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 PLANAR FAILURE
P3 = Z f
1
P4 = Z w
2
Zw
Zf
L3 =
2
sin [22]
Zw
L4 =
2 sin
1
U = L P3
2
1 1
V = ( P3 + P4 ) L3 + P4 L4
2 2

Case 2: Maximum Pressure at Toe

P5 = Z t
P6 = Z w
Z
L5 = t
sin [23]
1
U = ( P5 + P6 ) L
2
1
V = P5 L5
2

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 PLANAR FAILURE
Case 3: Maximum Pressure at Base of Tension Crack

Zt = Zw - Zf

P7 = Zt
Z
L7 = t
sin [24]
1
U = P7 L
2
1
V = P7 L7
2

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 PLANAR FAILURE
External Force

E x = E cos
E y = E sin

Seismic Force

S = Wy s
s = Seismic Coefficient
W = Weight of Wedge
Wy = Directional Weight Component

W y = W
S x = S cos
S y = S sin

Active Bolt Force

J = Active Bolt Force

J x = J cos a
J y = J sin a

Passive Bolt Force

K x = K cos p
K = Passive Bolt Force
K y = K sin p

Active Water Force (Tension Crack)

V x = V sin
V = Tension Crack Water Force
V y = V cos

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 PLANAR FAILURE
Normal/Shear Force on Failure Plane

W = Wedge Weight
Wy = -W

Active Forces Only:

F y + Fy = W y + E y + S y + J y + V y
Fy = A E sin S sin J sin a + V cos [24]

F x

+ Fx = E x + S x + J x + V x
Fx = E cos S cos + J cos a V sin [25]

N = (Fy + K y )cos + (Fx + K x ) sin U [26]

S = Fy sin Fx cos [27]

Shear Strength on Failure Plane

Strength Criterion = Mohr Coulomb

C = Cohesion
N = Normal Force
= Friction Angle
L = Length of Failure Surface

= c L + N tan + K x cos + K y sin [28]

144424443
Passive Bolt

Factor of Safety

Re sisting Forces
F=
Driving Forces
Shear Strength
F= = [29]
Shear Force S

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