DUMP SLOPE STABILITY ANALYSIS BY

NUMERICAL MODELLING

By
SUDIPTA KUMAR PANDA
115MN0543
Under the Guidance of
Prof. Hrushikesh Naik

Department of Mining Engineering

National Institute of Technology
Rourkela-769008
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CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION
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1.1 INTRODUCTION
Slope stability analysis plays a vital role in any opencast mining operation during the full life of
the project. In Indian mining scenario, slope design rules are not yet formulated for different types
of mining practices and there is an increasing demand to develop strategies to maintain safety
while increasing production. Still now, many of the designing methods are mostly based on field
knowledge and rules of thumb followed by critical engineering judgment. In last few decades, the
concept of slope stability analysis has developed under the field of rock engineering mainly to
address the difficulties in designing and stability of excavated slopes.

In India, the number of functional opencast mines is on a continuous rise as compared to

underground mines, the reason being enhanced productivity, low gestation period, and quick rate
of investment. But the operation of opencast mines attracts a lot of environmental concerns such
as solid waste management, land degradation and socio-economic problems. Moreover, a large
number of opencast mines, whether large or small, are nowadays trying to reach to deeper mining
depths. As a result, analysis of stability of working slopes and ultimate pit slope design is becoming
a major concern. The aim of the project is to carry out numerical modelling for slopes having
various dimensions keeping the geo-technical parameters constant. The numerical modelling is
carried out using FLAC SLOPE software for finding out the factor of safety. The parameters are
varied for each slope and the factor of safety calculated for each step. These values are correlated
with the bench parameters to find out how the factor of safety changes with changing parameters.

1.2 OBJECTIVES

The objective of this project is to investigate the stability of the slopes by determining the factor
of safety and to propose different safe slopes. (optimum slope angle and optimum Factor of
Safety). The primary purpose of the slope stability analysis is to contribute to the safe and
economic design of mine overburden dump.
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CHAPTER 2

METHODOLOGY
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METHODOLOGY

[Fig: Methodology]
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CHAPTER 3

LITERATURE REVIEW
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3. LITERATURE REVIEW

3.1 METHODS OF SLICES

The problems associated with slope stability are statically indeterminate; hence some simplified
assumptions are made in order to determine a unique factor of safety. The differences in
assumptions lead to various methods of slices. The most popular methods are on the procedures
proposed by Fellenius, Bishop, Janbu and Spencer. These methods either satisfy only overall
moment or force equilibrium or both. The latter is applicable to failure surface of any shape.
Methods like the Ordinary and simplified Bishop Methods are applicable to a circular slip surface,
Janbu‟s method satisfies force equilibrium and is applicable to both circular and non-circular
shape. Spencer‟s method is applicable to both moment and force equilibrium and it is applicable
to failure surfaces of any shape. It is considered as one of the accurate and rigorous methods for
solving stability problems.

[Fig: static equilibrium conditions in different limit equilibrium methods of slices]

3.2 FLAC

FLAC (Fast Lagrangian Analysis of Continua) is a two-dimensional finite difference program for
[16]
solving civil, mining and geotechnical engineering problems. It was first developed in 1986
specifically for accomplishment of analyses on microcomputers operating on Microsoft Windows
systems. Today, the software is designed to take advantage of multi-core processing for high-speed
calculation of model grids containing several thousand elements. Typical engineering problems
were solved in several hours using the original FLAC. With the current FLAC, the solution time
has reduced considerably. FLAC was originally developed for geotechnical and mining engineers,
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and since then, this flexible and adaptable program has become an essential analysis and design
tool in a variety of civil, mining, and mechanical engineering fields.

FLAC contains many special features that extend usefulness including:

 interface elements to imitate distinct planes along which slip and/or separation can occur;
 groundwater and consolidation (fully coupled) models;
 plane strain, plane stress, and axisymmetric geometry modes;
 structural element models to simulate structural support (e.g., tunnel liners, rock bolts,
geo-grids, etc.);
 fully dynamic analysis capability;
 viscoelastic and visco-plastic (creep) models;
 thermal (and thermal-mechanical) modeling capability; and
 extensive facility for generating plots of virtually any problem variable in FLAC.

3.3 ANALYSIS PROCEDURE

FLAC/Slope is specifically designed to perform multiple analyses and parametric studies for
slope stability projects. The structure of the program allows different models in a project to be
easily created, stored and accessed for direct comparison of model results. A FLAC/Slope
analysis project is divided into four stages which is described below.

Model Stage

Each model in a project is named and listed in a tabbed bar in the Models stage. This deleted
from it at any time in the project study. Models can also be restored (loaded) from allows easy
access to any model and results in a project. New models can be added to the tabbed bar or
previous projects and added to the current project. The slope boundary is also defined for each
model at this stage.

Build Stage

For a specific model, the slope conditions are defined in the Build stage. This includes: changes
to the slope geometry, addition of layers, specification of materials and weak plane, application
of surface loading, positioning of a water table and installation of reinforcement. Also, spatial
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regions of the model can be excluded from the factor-of safety calculation. The build-stage
conditions can be added, deleted and modified at any time during this stage.

Solve Stage

In the Solve stage, the factor of safety is calculated. The resolution of the numerical mesh is
selected first (coarse, medium and fine), and then the factor-of-safety calculation is performed.
Different strength parameters can be selected for inclusion in the strength reduction approach
to calculate the safety factor. By default, the material cohesion and friction angle are used.

Plot Stage

After the solution is complete, several output selections are available in the Plot stage for
displaying the failure surface and recording the results. Model results are available for
subsequent access and comparison to other models in the project. All models created within a
project, along with their solutions, can be saved, the project files can be easily restored and
results viewed at a later time.
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CHAPTER 4

STUDY AREA
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STUDY AREA

Ananta OCP is situated in Talcher Coalfields in the district of Angul of Odisha state. The Ananta
geological block is positioned between latitudes of 200 57’ 16” and 210 00’00” North and
longitudes of 850 07’ 14” and 850 09’09”East in survey of India top sheet no 73H/1. It is
surrounded by Bhubaneswari, Arakhpal blocks in east, Bharatpur Expansion project and Subhadra
West block in west and existing Jagannath extension OCP in south, Talcher u/g in south east and
Lingaraj OCP in east.

The block is well connected by metallic road to all important places of Odisha. Talcher, Angul
and state capital Bhubaneswar are 6kms, 22 kms and 165 kms distance from the block respectively.
The nearest rail head Talcher is 6 kms and distance of Calcutta and Paradeep port are 500 and 200
kms respectively from the block.

There are eighteen coal seams present in the block. Seam XII is the top most seam with seam II
the bottom most having a thickness of 35 meters. 17 numbers of faults with varying amount of
throw and direction have been interpreted in the block. The other details are as follows:-

Mineable Reserve 274.32 Mt

Stripping Ratio 1:2.46

Quarry depth 70 mtrs (Min), 265 mtrs (Max)

Strike East West: 2000mt – Maximum, 750 – Minimum

Name of Seam worked Talcher seam II, III & IV

Thickness Seam II – 30 to 35 mtrs

Seam III – 12 to 15 mtrs.

Seam IV- 3 to 6 Mtrs.

Parting between Seam II & III – 10 to 14 mtrs

Seam III & IV – 10 to 12 mtrs

Amount of full dip 1 in 8 to 1 in 11

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Thickness of OB Varies from 18 to 25 mtrs

Formation Lower Gondwana

[Fig: Mine Plan for Ananta Open cast mine]

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CHAPTER 5

EXPERIMENTAL ANALYSIS
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5. EXPERIMENTAL ANALYSIS

5.1 DIRECT SHEAR TEST

Shear strength is generally employed to describe the strength of rock materials, to resist
deformation due to shear stress. Rock resists shear stress by two internal mechanisms, cohesion
and internal friction. Cohesion is a measure of internal bonding of the rock material whereas the
angle of internal friction is caused by contact between particles, and is denoted by the internal
friction angle, φ. Different rocks have of course different cohesions and different friction angles.
Shear strength of rock material can be determined by both the direct shear test and by tri-axial
compression tests.

Shear strength in a soil arises from the fact that there occurs a surface frictional resistance along
the sliding plane, interlocking between individual rock grains and cohesion in sliding surface of
soil model. The shear strength of soil is given by Mohr-Coulomb expression:

APPARATUS

1. Direct shear box apparatus

2. Loading frame (motor attached).
3. Dial gauge.
4. Proving ring.
5. Tamper.
6. Straight edge.
7. Balance to weigh up to 200 mg.
8. Aluminium container.
9. Spatula.
PROCEDURE

 In a test of soil, there are two basic stages. First nominal load is applied to specimen and
then failure is induced by applying a shear stress.
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 If no water is allowed to escape from or enter into specimen either during consolidation is
un-drained test.
 If the specimen is allowed to consolidate under normal load but no drainage of water is
allowed during shear, it is called consolidated un-drained or consolidated quick test.
 Then we took the dimensions of the shear box and also the amount of the sample.
 Then we took required weight of sample in a tray and added some amount of water to it, at
its optimum moisture content.
 Thereafter thorough mixing of this mixture was done. Thereafter we assembled the shear
box with the shearing pins screwed in. Then in three layers, sample was then transferred to
the shear box.
 Then by fixing the top plates on the shear box, we transferred it to the loading frame.
 Then we attached weights to the loading frame and the set the dial gauges to zero.
 After that the machine was started and the readings of the proving ring were taken up to
failure of the sample.
 It was repeated by taking different weights i.e. normal stress and recorded the observations.

The variation of shear stress with normal stress has been shown below:

Normal Stress (kg/cm2) Shear Stress (kg/cm2)

0.5 0.47
1 0.64
1.5 0.96
2 1.08
2.5 1.35

[Table: Direct shear test obsrvations]

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Direct Shear Test Graph

1.6
1.4
y = 0.44x + 0.24
1.2
Shear Stress
1
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3
Normal Stress

[Figure: Shear stress vs. Normal stress Plot]

Cohesion = intercept on the y axis = 0.24 kg/cm2 = 24 KPa

Angle of Internal Friction = slope of the straight line= arc-tan (0.44) = 24°

5.2 PROCTOR COMPACTION TEST

In geotechnical engineering, soil compaction is the process in which a stress applied to a soil causes
densification as air is displaced from the pores between the soil grains. It is an instantaneous
process and always takes place in partially saturated soil (three phase system). The Proctor
compaction test is a laboratory method of experimentally determining the optimal moisture content
at which a given soil type will become densest and achieve its maximum dry density.

Determination of the relationship between the moisture content and density of soils compacted in
a mould of a given size with a 2.5 kg rammer dropped from a height of 30 cm. the results obtained
from this test will be helpful in increasing the bearing capacity of foundations, decreasing the
undesirable settlement of structures, control undesirable volume changes, reduction in hydraulic
conductivity, Increasing the stability of slopes and so on.

APPARATUS REQUIRED

1. Proctor mould having a capacity of 989.6 cc with an internal diameter of 10 cm and a height
of 12.6 cm. The mould shall have a detachable collar assembly and a detachable base plate.
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2. Rammer: A mechanical operated metal rammer having a 5.08 cm diameter face and a
weight of 2.5 kg. The rammer shall be equipped with a suitable arrangement to control the
height of drop to a free fall of 30 cm.
3. Sample extruder, mixing tools such as mixing pan, spoon, towel, and spatula.
4. A balance of 15 kg capacity, Sensitive balance, Straight edge, Graduated cylinder,
Moisture tins.

PROCEDURE

 Take a representative oven-dried sample, approximately 5 kg in the given pan. Thoroughly

mix the sample with sufficient water to dampen it with approximate water content of 4-6 %.
 Weigh the proctor mould without base plate and collar. Fix the collar and base plate. Place the
soil in the Proctor mould and compact it in 3 layers giving 25 blows per layer with the 2.5 kg
rammer falling through. The blows shall be distributed uniformly over the surface of each
layer.
 Remove the collar; trim the compacted soil even with the top of mould using a straight edge
and weigh.
 Divide the weight of the compacted specimen by 944 cc and record the result as the bulk
density.
 Remove the sample from mould and slice vertically through and obtain a small sample for
water content.
 Thoroughly break up the remainder of the material until it will pass a no.4 sieve as judged by
the eye. Add water in sufficient amounts to increase the moisture content of the soil sample by
one or two percentage points and repeat the above procedure for each increment of water
added. Continue this series of determination until there is either a decrease or no change in the
wet unit weight of the compacted soil.
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OBSERVATION

Weight of Weight of Weight of Weight of Weight Wet Moisture Dry

mould in mould + compacted sample of sample density content density
g (w1) Weight of soil in g before after (g/cc) (%) (g/cc)
compacted (w2 – w1) drying in drying in
soil in g g g
(w2)
4080 5712 1632 20 17 1.65 8.5 1.52
4080 5841 1761 36 32 1.78 12.5 1.58
4080 6030 1950 30 24 1.95 25 1.56
4080 6010 1930 24 19 1.97 27.8 1.54

[Table: Proctor compaction observation]

Proctor Test
1.61
1.6
1.59
1.58
Dry Density (g/cc)

1.57
1.56
1.55
1.54
1.53
1.52
1.51
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
Moisture content (%)

[Fig: Dry density vs Moisture content]

From the above experiment the maximum dry density was found to be 1.6 g/cc and the water
content at maximum density is 17.5%.
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CHAPTER 6

NUMERICAL MODELLING
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NUMERICAL MODELLING

In this dump stability analysis, the dump height is constant (i.e. 60m), bench height is 30m and
bench width is also kept constant (i.e. 30m).

Here, the bench slope angle is varied and the factor of safety of the dump slope is calculated.

[Figure: Numerical Model of the Dump with Bench Slope angle 35 ̊ ]

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[Figure: Numerical Model of the Dump with Bench Slope angle 36 ̊ ]

[Figure: Numerical Model of the Dump with Bench Slope angle 37 ̊ ]

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[Figure: Numerical Model of the Dump with Bench Slope angle 38 ̊ ]

[Figure: Numerical Model of the Dump with Bench Slope angle 39 ̊ ]

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ANALYSIS

Serial No. Bench Slope Angle Factor of Safety

1 35 1.39
2 36 1.33
3 37 1.30
4 38 1.27
5 39 1.25
[Table: Variation of factor of safety with bench slope angle]

FOS vs Bench slope angle

1.4
1.38
1.36
1.34
FOS

1.32
1.3
1.28
1.26
1.24
34.5 35 35.5 36 36.5 37 37.5 38 38.5 39 39.5
Bench Slope angle

[Figure: Bench Slope Angle vs. Factor of Safety Plot

Based on the analysis of results presented in the above figures and tables, it was evident that at
constant dump height, bench with and bench height, with increase in bench slope angle the factor
of safety decreases.
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CHAPTER 7

EXPECTED OUTCOME
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EXPECTED OUTCOME

In this research a detailed analysis will be done on the safety status of the preexisting dump slope
of the studied mine. In the analysis we will take different slope angles, bench angles, bench heights
and then for them respective frictional angles, factor of safety, cohesion are calculated for using
the field values. Then the set of field values which will give rise to optimum factor of safety and
maximum stability will be chosen as the optimum material properties and optimum slope
dimensions.
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REFERENCES

1. Husein Malkawi A.I., Hassan W.F., Abdulla F., Uncertainty and reliability analysis applied
to slope stability. Structural Safety Journal; 22:161–87, (2000).
2. https://ascelibrary.org/doi/book/10.1061/9780784412886
3. https://www.itascacg.com/flac-8-basics