Distinct Element Modelling of Mahabaleshwar Road Cut Hill Slope

Ashutosh Kainthola, P. K. Singh, A. B. Wasnik, T. N. Singh

Department of Earth Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai, India.

DOI: 10.4236/gm.2012.24015                

Abstract

Reliable estimates of slope stability are essential for safe design and planning of road cut hill slopes which accommo-date a number of tourist destinations around the world. The failure of cut slopes along these hills puts human life in grave danger and it is also disastrous for the economy. In the present study, a section of 100 m high jointed basalt hill slope has been analyzed numerically in a distinct element code, which is apt for simulating the behavior for jointed rock. The analysis was carried out for both the dry and saturated conditions. The distinct element analysis of the hill slope demonstrates it to be marginally stable under dry condition, while for the saturated condition, the hill slope fails along well defined joint planes.

Keywords

Distinct Element Method; UDEC; Slope Stability; Mahabaleshwar

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

[1]	R. Bhasin and A. M. Kaynia, “Static and Dynamic Simulation of a 700-m High Rock Slope Failure in Western Norway,” Engineering Geology, Vol. 71, No. 3-4, 2004, pp. 213-226. doi:10.1016/S0013-7952(03)00135-2
[2]	Y. Lin, D. Zhu, Q. Deng and Q. He, “Collapse Analysis of Jointed Rock Slope Based on UDEC Software and Practical Seismic Load,” International Conference on Advances in Computational Modeling and Simulation, Vol. 31, 2012, pp. 441-416.
[3]	M. Souley and F. Homand, “Stability of Jointed Rock Masses Evaluated by UDEC with an Extended Saeb-Amadei Constitutive Law,” International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences, Vol. 33, No. 3, 1996, pp. 233-244. doi:10.1016/0148-9062(95)00063-1
[4]	T. N. Singh, V. Bhardwaj, L. Dhonta and K. Sarkar, “Numerical Analysis of Instability of Slope near Rudraprayag Area,” Journal of Engineering Geology, Vol. 34, No. 1-4, 2007, pp. 33-42.
[5]	A. Kainthola, D. Verma, S. S. Gupte and T. N. Singh, “A Coal Mine Dump Stability Analysis: A Case Study,” International Journal of Geomaterialogy, Vol. 1, 2011, pp. 1-13.
[6]	D. Verma, R. Thareja, A. Kainthola and T. N. Singh, “Evaluation of Open Pit Mine Slope Stability Analysis,” International Journal of Earth Sciences and Engineering, Vol. 4, No. 4, 2011, pp. 590-600.
[7]	K. Sarkar and T. N. Singh, “Evaluation of Instability Analysis of Slope: A Numerical Approach,” Mining Engineering Journal, Vol. 8, No. 10, 2007, pp. 11-31.
[8]	R. Bhasin and K. H?eg, “Parametric Study for a Large Cavern in Jointed Rock Using a Distinct Element Model (UDEC-BB),” International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences, Vol. 35, No. 1, 1998, pp. 17-29. doi:10.1016/S0148-9062(97)00312-4
[9]	X. B. Zhao, J. Zhao, J. G. Cai and A. M. Hefny, “UDEC Modelling on Wave Propagation across Fractured Rock Masses,” Computers and Geotechnics, Vol. 35, No. 1, 2008, pp. 97-104. doi:10.1016/j.compgeo.2007.01.001
[10]	E. Hoek, J. Read, A. Karzulovic and Z. Y. Chen, “Rock Slopes in Civil and Mining Engineering,” International Conference on Geotechnical and Geological Engineering, Melbourne, 2000, pp. 1-17.
[11]	J. P. Aglawe and A. G. Corkum, “Application of Distinct Element Analysis in Slope Stability Problems,” Presented at the Indo-Norwegian Workshop on Seismic Hazard and Risk Assessment, New Delhi, 2006.
[12]	P. A. Cundall, “A Computer Model for Simulating Progressive Large Scale Movements in Blocky Rock System,” International Proceedings Symposium, ISRM, Nancy, 1971, pp. 128-132.
[13]	P. A. Cundall, “UDEC: A Generalized Distinct Element Program for Modelling Jointed Rock,” Report PCAR-I-80, Peter Cundall Associates Report, European Research Office, US Army, Contract, 1980, DAJA37-79-C-0548.
[14]	S. Nichol, O. Hungr and S. Evans, “Large-Scale Brittle and Ductile Toppling of Rock Slopes,” Canadian Geotechnical Journal, Vol. 39, No. 4, 2002, pp. 773-788. doi:10.1139/t02-027
[15]	UDEC 5.0, “Universal Distinct Element Code User’s Guide,” Itasca Consulting Group Inc, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 2011.
[16]	C. Zhang, O. K. Pekau, J. Feng and W. Guanglun, “Application of Distinct Element Method in Dynamic Analysis of High Rock Slopes and Blocky Structures,” Soil Division Earthquake Engineering, Vol. 16, No. 6, 1997, pp. 385-394. doi:10.1016/S0267-7261(97)00012-2
[17]	T. Easki, Y. Jiang, T. N. Bhattarai, T. Maeda, A. Nozaki and T. Mizokami, “Modelling Jointed Rock Masses and Prediction of Slope Stabilities by DEM,” Proceedings of the 37th US Rock Mechanics Symposium, Vail, 1999, pp. 83-90.
[18]	V. Kveldsvik, A. M. Kaynia, F. Nadim, R. Bhasin, N. Bj?rn and H. H. Einstein, “Dynamic Distinct-Element Analysis of the 800 m High ?knes Rock Slope,” International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences, Vol. 46, No. 4, 2009, pp. 686-698. doi:10.1016/j.ijrmms.2008.10.007
[19]	G. W. Rathod, A. K. Shrivastava and K.S. Rao, “Distinct Element Modelling for High Rock Slopes in Static and Dynamic Conditions: A Case Study,” GeoRisk, ASCE, 2011.
[20]	J. E. Beane, C. A. Turner and P. R. Hooper, “Stratigraphy, Composition and Form of the Deccan Basalts, Western Ghats, India,” Bulletin of Volcanology, Vol. 48, 1986, pp. 61-83. doi:10.1007/BF01073513
[21]	S. Najafi, K. G. Cox and R. N. Sukeshwala, “Geology and Geochemistry of the Basalt Flows, Deccan Traps of the Mahad-Mahabaleshwar Section, India,” In: K. V. Subbarao and R. N. Sukeshwala, Eds., Geological Society of India, Vol. 3, 1981, pp. 300-315.
[22]	ISRM, “Rock Characterization Testing and Monitoring, ISRM Suggested Methods,” International Society for Rock Mechhanics, 1981, p. 211.
[23]	ISRM, “Suggested Methods for Determining Tensile Strength of Rock Materials,” International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences & Geomechanics Abstracts, Vol. 15, No. 3, 1978, pp. 99-103. doi:10.1016/0148-9062(78)90003-7
[24]	ISRM, “Suggested Methods for Determining Swelling and Slake Durability Index Properties,” International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences, Vol. 16, 1978, pp. 151-156.
[25]	ISRM, “Commission on Standardization of Laboratory and Field Tests, Suggested Methods for Determining Sound Velocity,” International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences & Geomechanics Abstracts, Vol. 15, No. 3, 1978, pp. 53-58. doi:10.1016/0148-9062(78)90049-9
[26]	ISRM, “Commission on Standardization of Laboratory and Field Tests, Suggested Methods for Determining Water Content, Porosity, Density, Absorption and Related Properties and Swelling and Slake-Durability Index Properties,” International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences & Geomechanics Abstracts, Vol. 16, 1979, pp. 141-156. doi:10.1016/0148-9062(79)90188-8
[27]	ISRM, “Rock Characterization Testing and Monitoring, ISRM Suggested Methods,” International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences, 1981, p. 211.
[28]	ISRM, “Suggested Method for Determining the Uniaxial Compressive Strength of Rock Materials, Rock Characterization, Testing and Monitoring,” International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences & Geomechanics Abstracts, 1981, p. 113.
[29]	ISRM, “Suggested Methods for Determining Shear Strength,” In: E. T. Brown, Ed., Rock Characterization, Testing and Monitoring, Pergamon Press, Oxford,1981, pp. 129-140.
[30]	I. B. Donald and S. K. Giam, “Application of the Nodal Displacement Method to Slope Stability Analysis,” Proceedings of the 5th Australia-New Zealand Conference on Geomechanics, Sydney, 1988, pp. 456-460.
[31]	T. Matsui and K. C. San, “Finite element slope stability analysis by shear strength reduction technique,” Soils and Foundations, Vol. 32, No. 1, 1992, pp. 59-70. doi:10.3208/sandf1972.32.59
[32]	K. Ugai and D. Leshchinsky, “Three-Dimensional Limit Equilibrium and Finite Element Analyses: A Comparison of Results,” Soils and Foundations, Vol. 35, No. 4, 1995, pp. 1-7. doi:10.3208/sandf.35.4_1