Question:

Dear sir,
While performing kinematic analysis for wedge failure of rock slope in Dips 6.0 software
(RocScience), it indicates a region of secondary wedge failure envelop (marked by yellow by
default in figure 1). But I am unable to understand the mechanism of the secondary wedge
failure. Kindly help me in this regard.

Figure 1. Figure 2.

According to RocScience help page,

(https://www.rocscience.com/help/dips/dips/Wedge_Sliding.htm)
“In the yellow region (secondary wedge failure envelop), the intersections are actually inclined
at LESS THAN the friction angle, but sliding can take place on a single joint plane which has
a dip vector greater than the friction angle.”
But, In figure 2, the intersection is less than friction angle and one of the joint planes has greater
dip amount (45°) than the friction angle (34°). However, the intersection does not lie in the
secondary failure envelope.
Kindly help me to understand the mechanism and send me any document in support of the
mechanism.

Reply from Dr Wyllie

The attached sheets show my comments on stability conditions based solely on the
stereonets.
The “secondary envelopes” are applicable for wedges that have a higher factor of safety than
wedges, with a LOI inside the friction cone. Most of the wedges in the secondary envelope
would tend to have LOI’s in directions close to the slope face, and may also be thin (i.e., limited
volume).
I trust that these comments are useful.
The secondary wedges apply for LOI’s outside (not inside) the friction cone, which is the reason the
Factor of Safety is high.

I have run the Figure 2 geology in SWEDGE (with a tension crack) as shown in the attached file.
While it is mathematically possible to form a wedge with joints C and D, in practice a wedge would
not form with an overhang on joint D. The calculated FS is 5.6.

Question:

1. In the secondary wedge failure envelope, in figure 1 (below), what should be the maximum
angle between slope face dip direction and Joint 2 dip direction to cause kinematically
feasible failure.

Figure 1
 2. In figure 2 (below), If we consider the single plane wedge failure mechanism, Joint 1 would be
responsible for failure. But on the other hand, Joint 2 lie inside the lateral limit for planar
failure. So what should be the primary failure plane in this condition?

Figure 2
Reply from Dr Wyllie

Mr. Kundu:

To answer your questions:

· Figure 1 – for a face with a dip direction of 340 deg., plane failure is feasible for joints with dip
directions between 320 deg. and 360 deg. approximately (i.e., ±20 deg. from the face direction).

· Figure 2 – plane failure feasible on Joint 2 which is approximately parallel to the orientation of
the face, and has a dip steeper than the friction angle. A wedge may also form on joint 1 and joint 2
with a LOI in the direction of about 020 deg.

Hope this helps.