RocPlane

Planar sliding stability analysis for rock slopes

Theory Manual

ã 2001 Rocscience Inc.

 PLANAR FAILURE
Geometry – No Tension Crack

Known Parameters: Unknown Parameters:

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

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

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

OB + BC = OC
 H cot β  M cosψ   L cos α 
 + = 
 H   M sin ψ   L sin α 
This gives two equations:
H cot β + M cosψ = L cos α [3]
H + M sin ψ = L sin α [4]

From equations [4]:

L sin α − H
M = [5]
sin ψ

Substituting [5] into [3]:

H cot β + ( L sin α − H ) cot ψ = L cos α
H (cot β − cot ψ ) = L(cos α − sin α cot ψ )
H (1 − cot β tanψ )
L= [6]
sin α − cos α tanψ

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 PLANAR FAILURE
From equation [3]:
L cos α − H cot β
M = [7]
cosψ

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

C = {L cos α , L sin α } [8]

Area Calculation:
1
A= B×C
2
1
A = Bx C y − B y C x [9]
2
W = A ⋅γ [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 sinα
Zw
Lw = wetted length =
sin α
P = Maximum water pressure
1
= Z wγ w
2

1 11  Z 
U = water force = P ⋅ Lw =  Z w ⋅ γ w  w 
2 22  sin α 
Zw ⋅γ w
2

U = [11]
4 sin α

Case 2: Maximum Pressure at Toe

Zw
Lw =
sin α
P = γZ w

 Z 
P ⋅ Lw = (γ ⋅ Z w ) w 
1 1
U=
2 2  sin α 
Z ⋅γ w
2

U= w [12]
2 sin α

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 PLANAR FAILURE
Geometry – Tension Crack

Known Parameters: Unknown Parameters:

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

As in the no tension crack case:

H
N=
sin β
B = {H cot β , H }

Now,
C = B + {T ,T tanψ } [13]
T
M = [14]
cosψ

Let’s solve for D,Q,L:

D = C − {Q cosθ , Q sin θ } [15]

D = {L cos α , L sin α } [16]

Equate equations [15]&[16]:

{C x , C y }− {Q cosθ , Q sin θ } = {L cos α , L sin α }

C x − Q cosθ
or L= [17]
cos α

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

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 ⋅γ

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 sinα
U = Water force on failure plane
V = Water force on tension crack

Type A. If Zw ≤ Zf
Z ⋅γ w
2

U= w ; V = 0 [20]
4 sin α

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

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

V = t
2 sin θ

Type C. If Zw > Zf and Zw/2 ≥ Zf

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 PLANAR FAILURE
P3 = γ ⋅ Z f
1
P4 = γ ⋅ Z w
2
 Zw 
 −Zf 
L3 =  
2
sin θ [22]
Zw
L4 =
2 sin θ
1
U = L ⋅ P3
2
1 1
V = ( P3 + P4 ) L3 + P4 L4
2 2

Case 2: Maximum Pressure at Toe

P5 = γ ⋅ Z t
P6 = γ ⋅ Z w
Z
L5 = t
sin θ [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 = γ ⋅ Zt
Z
L7 = t
sin θ [24]
1
U = P7 ⋅ L
2
1
V = P7 ⋅ L7
2

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 PLANAR FAILURE
External Force

E x = E ⋅ cos δ
E y = E ⋅ sin δ

Seismic Force

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

W y = −W
S x = S ⋅ cos Ω
S y = S ⋅ sin Ω

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 θ
V = Tension Crack Water Force
V y = V ⋅ cosθ

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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 ⋅ γ − E ⋅ sin δ − S ⋅ sin Ω − J ⋅ sin ∆ a + V ⋅ cosθ [24]

∑F x 
→
+ Fx = E x + S x + J x + V x
Fx = E ⋅ cos δ − S ⋅ cos Ω + J ⋅ cos ∆ a − V ⋅ sin θ [25]

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

S = − Fy ⋅ sin α − Fx ⋅ cos α [27]

Shear Strength on Failure Plane

Strength Criterion = Mohr Coulomb

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

τ = c ⋅ L + N ⋅ tan φ + K x ⋅ cos α + K y ⋅ sin α [28]

144424443
Passive Bolt

Factor of Safety

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

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