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Numerical investigations on slope stability using an elasto-brittle model considering fissure water pressure

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Abstract

The initiation, propagation, coalescence evolution behaviors of cracks in rock mass, and even fissure water pressure have significant impacts on the strength and stability of fractured rock mass in engineering projects. In this paper, we propose an elasto-brittle constitutive model considering fissure water pressure based on the computer code three-dimensional fast Lagrangian analysis of continua (FLAC3D). This constitutive model is initially validated through a pre-cracked rock-like-material specimen in the laboratory experiments and then proved to actually simulate the initiation, propagation, and coalescence characteristics of cracks considering fissure water pressure in brittle fractured rock mass. Afterwards, it is used to investigate the stability of the right bank slope in Dagangshan hydropower station which is located in Sichuan province, China. The whole stability of this rock slope during construction has been simulated using the above constitutive model. The development principles of cracks in a selected area and the displacement field of the slope under different fissure water pressures are obtained in the process of excavations. It is concluded that fissure water pressure has obvious and significant effect on the strength and stability of fractured rock mass.

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Acknowledgments

The work was supported by the National Science and Technology Support Program of China (2015BAB07B05), Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province (BS2012NJ006), and Specialized Research Fund for the Doctoral Program for higher Education (no. 20110131120034). We would also like to express our sincere gratitude to the editor and the two anonymous reviewers for their valuable contributions to this paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Geotechnical and Structural Engineering Research Center, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong Province, 250061, People’s Republic of China

    Yong Li, Hao Zhou, Weishen Zhu & Shucai Li

  2. School of Civil Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong Province, 250061, People’s Republic of China

    Jian Liu

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  1. Yong Li
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  2. Hao Zhou
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  3. Weishen Zhu
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  4. Shucai Li
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  5. Jian Liu
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Correspondence to Yong Li.

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Li, Y., Zhou, H., Zhu, W. et al. Numerical investigations on slope stability using an elasto-brittle model considering fissure water pressure. Arab J Geosci 8, 10277–10288 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-015-1967-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-015-1967-4

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