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The effects of strength parameters on failure mechanisms in weak rocks

Conference Paper · August 2016

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Özge Dinç Göğüş

Istanbul Technical University
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The effects of strength parameters on slope failure mechanisms in weak
rocks
Ö. Dinç & Z. Karaca
Onsekiz Mart University, Canakkale, Turkey
N. Işık
Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey

ABSTRACT: This research project investigates the planar failure mechanisms of rock slopes by using PFC2D
numerical code based on the distinct element methods. The aim of this work is to evaluate further the role of
persistence of discontinuities (joints) that controls the planar failure mechanisms of slopes. Three types of rock
materials were modeled by using bonded particle model procedures in PFC. The results show that the location
of the rock bridges predominantly affect the failure mechanisms of rock slopes as well as the discontinuity
length. All rock materials (e.g limestone, claystone and gypsum) with UCS values under 25 MPa, begin to fail
initially by the tensile stresses around the rock bridge zones then those will eventually develop tension cracks.

1 INTRODUCTION 2 MODEL SET UP

Previous studies suggest that predicting the
behavior of a rock mass at the pre-failure or syn-
failure stage (from stress-strain relationship) may be
less complex compared to that of the post-failure
conditions. It has been known that the post failure-
interval allows to develop joints and they may
reinforce the failure progression depending on their
location or orientation. Numerical analysis have
been useful to predict the possible behaviors of rock
masses, hence this method enables to identify the
very different discontinuity effects on the failure
mechanisms under various stress conditions. Several
studies investigate the coalescence and/or
propagation of discontinuities during the loading
processes (Camones et al. 2013; Bahaddini et al.
2013; Scholtes and Donze 2015; Cao et al. 2014 and
Prudencio & van Sint Jan 2007). However, it is less
clear to account for the coalescence and/or
propagation on different rock material types and the
prediction of the post failure rock mechanisms.
In this work, by using PFC2D distinct element
code we explore how the rock failure on planar
surfaces progresses during the post failure phase
depending on the joint lenghts (or rock bridges),
slope dip angles and rock material types. More
specifically, we test three types of rock materials -
limestone, claystone and gypsum- in which each of
these rocks are assigned to the slopes. Our findings
will help us to determine the critical parameters that
trigger the planar failure.
Below, we explain the microparameters of the
rock materials and joints used in our models to track
the complex mechanical behavior of rock masses.
2.1 Rock Materials
We model rock materials’ mechanical behavior
(PFC2D) by using bonded particle model procedures
suggested by Cundall and Strack (1979). The rock
materials are formed by an assemblage of rigid
particles in which their interactions are controlled by
Newton's second law of motion (Itasca PFC2D,
version 5 manual). The distinct particles are
distributed based on Gauss distribution method and
the rock failure occurs by the breakage of the
associated bonds between these particles. In Figure 1
and Table 1, the parallel bond method and its micro
properties are given for the each rock material
modeled in this work. In order to determine the
macro-mechanical properties of these rocks (σc, σt),
laboratory tests such as uniaxial compressive and
direct tensile tests are simulated on the rock samples
with dimensions of 4 m high and 2 m wide (Table 2).
The modulus of elasticity values (E) are obtained
from stress (σ) –strain (ε) curve of the uniaxial
compressive tests.
 Table 1. Micro parameters of rock materials based joint dip angle > internal friction angle (Hoek and
on the parallel bond method. Bray, 1981) the joints are arranged in 35° dip angle
Property Sample 1 Sample 2 Sample 3 and their internal friction angle is set to 20°.
Ball radius (m) 0.08-0.12 0.08-0.12 0.08-0.12 The micro properties of the joints are given in Table
Ball denst (kg/m3) 2500 2500 2500 3.
Effec. mod. (GPa) 8.3 4.0 3.0
Stiffness ratio (krat) 2.2 1.5 1.8 2.3 Slopes
Tension (MPa) 5 3 2
Cohesion (MPa) 100 60 30 All slope models have 10 m heights with 55οand
Friction angle (o) 20 20 20 75ο dip angles cutting through the slope surfaces.
Porosity 0.1 0.1 0.1 Three rock materials are assigned to these slopes
Linear Part with joints in different lengths (or rock bridge
Effec. mod.(GPa) 20 8.5 7.0 intervals). The rock bridges are designed with
Stiffness ratio, krat 2.2 1.7 1.9 intervals of 1 m, 0.6 m and 0.4 m and are located at
Friction coefficient 0 0 0
different parts of the slopes as shown in Figure 2.

Table 2. Macro mechanical parameters of rock 3 MODEL RESULTS

materials.
Sample No σc (MPa)
1 20.58
2 11.16
3 7.1
Table 3. Discontinuity parameters based on smooth
joint contact method.
Parameters
Normal stiffness, sj_kn (GPa)
Shear stiffness, sj_ks (GPa)
Friction, sj_fric (tanɸ)
Cohesion, sj_coh (MPa)
Tension, sj_ten (MPa)
4m
2m
Figure 1. The model configuration of rock materials.
σt (MPa) E (GPa)
Our numerical experiments with a series of set of
3.41 15
parametric controls suggest the following results
2.01 7.5
for the post-failure stage in rock mass behavior.
0.71 5.5
i. The variation of the slope dip angles (55ο and 75ο )
only control the amount of the sliding material
through the potential failure surface (Fig. 3 and 4).
ii. All rock slope models begin to fail by tension
stresses occured in the rock bridge zones of the
10 slopes. In low normal stresses (σn), the planar failure
10 process in the potential failure surface has been
0.36 triggered by not shearing but tensile stresses. These
0 results are consistent with the analytical calculations
0 of the rock slope stability produced by Einstein et al.
(1983). These stresses in the rock bridge zones
directly cause to wing tensile cracks and the rock
materials begin to fail by their sliding forces (Fig. 3
and 4).
iii. We interpret that the most critical parameter on
the failing mass is the location of the rock
bridge. Our results did not show coalescence
behavior in joints but the wing crack propogation
occurs by the tensile stresses in the rock bridge
zones.
iv. The variation in the rock material type does not
show a significant effect on the failing tendency for
the post-failure stage. We interpret that this is
because the rock materials may be classified under
weak rock group because of their strength and
deformation parameters. Under 25 MPa uniaxial
compressive stress tests the rock materials behave
similar to the loose rock masses.

2.2 Joints 4 DISCUSSION

The discontinuties (joints) are modeled by using
smooth-joint model in PFC and a smooth surface is
assigned between two particles which overlaps ontop
of each other or slide through them. By this way, the
development of an extra roughness on the joint
surface is prevented directly. In order to produce the
planar failure in the slopes (such as, slope angle >
We performed a number of numerical analysis on
three types of rock materials which are assigned to
the slopes in 10 m high with 55ο and 75ο dip
angles. Unlike the previous work by Prudencio and
van Sint Jan, (2007); Camones et al. (2013);
Bahaddini et al. (2013); Cao et al. (2014); Scholtes
and Donze (2015) the coalescence of joints did not
develop in our numerical models, but the wing crack
propagation developed in the rock bridge zones by
tension stresses. All three samples fail in a similar
manner that needs to be tested for field based case
studies in the future work.

Figure 2. The rock bridge intervals are 1 m, 0.6 m and 0.4 m respectively (a, b, c).

Figure 3. Failure behaviors of the slopes in 10 m high with 55 o dip angle.

Figure 4. Failure behaviors of the slopes in 10 m high with 75 o dip angle.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This work had been financially supported by Scientific

Research Council of Turkey (TUBİTAK).

REFERENCES

Bahaaddini M., Sharrock G., Hebblewhite B.K. , 2013.

Numerical direct shear tests to model the shear behaviour of
rock joints, Computers and Geotechnics 51 (2013) 101–115.
Camones L. A. M., Vargas Jr. E. A., Figueiredo R. P.,
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Cao P., Liu T., Pu C., Lin H., 2014. Crack propagation and
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Hoek, E. and Bray, J.W. (1981). Rock Slope Engineering,
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Scholtes L., Donze F., 2015. A DEM analysis of step-path
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