Topic 5 Wedge Failure

538416 Surface Mining and Mine Design

 Outline

 Definition of Wedge Geometry

 Analysis of Wedge Failure
 Wedge Analysis including Cohesion, Friction and
Water Pressure
 Wedge Stability Charts for Friction Only
 Comprehensive Wedge Analysis
 Data for Comprehensive Analysis
 Computer Programs for Comprehensive Analysis
 Example of Comprehensive Wedge Analysis
General condition for wedge failure
 Two plane always
intersect in a line ai
(trend ai and plunge yi)
 Daylight and overcome
friction angle ai’

(yfi > yi > f)

 Line of intersection is
between ai and ai’
 Trend ai and Plunge yi

Critical Area

1 tan y A cos a A  tan y B cos a B

a i  tan ( )
tan y B sin a B  tan y A sin a A
y i  tan y A cos(a A  a i )  tan y B cos(a B  a i )
 (1) Analysis of Wedge Failure

The F.S. of wedge assuming that sliding is resisted by

friction only and that the friction angle f is the same for both
planes
(R A  R B ) tanf
F.S. 
W sin y i

Where RA and RB are the normal reactions provided by

planes A and B
 Analysis of Wedge Failure

 In order to find RA and RB, resolve horizontally and vertically in the view along the
line of intersection :

RA sin ( - ½ ) = RB sin ( - ½ ) RA cos ( - ½ ) +

RB cos ( + ½ ) = W cos yi

 Solving for RA and RB and adding :

W.Cos y i .Sin 
RA  RB 
1
Sin 
2
 Hence :

sin  tanf
F.S.  .
sin  tany i
1
2
 (2) Analysis of Wedge Failure

 In other words:

FSw = K . FSp

Where F.S.w = factor of safety of a wedge supported by friction only.

F.S.p = factor of safety of a plane failure in which the slope face is inclined
at yfi and the failure plane is inclined at yi.
Wedge Factor, K

10
(3) Wedge Analysis including Cohesion, Friction and Water Pressure

The numbering used throughout this book is as follows:

1 – Intersection of plane A with the slope face
2 – Intersection of plane B with the slope face
3 – Intersection of plane A with upper slope surface
4 – Intersection of plane B with upper slope surface
5 – Intersection of plane A and B
 Wedge Analysis including Cohesion, Friction and Water Pressure

The factor of safety

F.S. 
3
c A X  c B Y    A   w X tanfA   B   w Y  tanfB
rH  2   2 

where cA and cB = cohesive strengths of planes A and B

fA and fB = angles of friction on planes A and B
r = unit weight of the rock
w = unit weight of water
H = total height of the wedge
X, Y, A and B = dimensionless factors which depend upon
the geometry of the wedge.
 Wedge Analysis including Cohesion, Friction and Water Pressure

F.S. 
3
c A X  c B Y    A   w X tanfA   B   w Y  tanfB
rH  2   2 

The values of parameters X, Y, A and B :

sin 24
X
sin 45 cos2.na

sin 13
Y
sin 35 cos1.na

cosy a - cosy b .cosna.nb

A
sin y 5sin 22na.nb

cosy b - cosy a .cosna.nb

B
sin y 5sin 2 2na.nb
Stereoplot of Data
Wedge stability calculation sheet
 (4) Wedge Stability Charts for Friction Only

If the cohesive strength of the planes A and B is zero and the slope is fully drained,

F.S. = A tan fA + B tan fB

Dip Difference 0 degree
Dip Difference 10 degrees
Dip Difference 20 degrees
Dip Difference 30 degrees
Dip Difference 40 degrees
Dip Difference 50 degrees
Dip Difference 60 degrees
Dip Difference 70 degrees
 Example
 In order to illustrate the use of these charts, consider the following example:
dip dip direction friction angle
Plane A 40 165 35
Plane B 70 285 20
Differences 30 120

A = 1.5
B = 0.7
F.S. = A tan fA + B tan fB
= 1.5 tan 35 + 0.7 tan 20
= 1.30
Type of Unit Imperial SI
Length ft m
Area ft2 m2
Volume ft3 m3
Force lb N
Pressure or Stress lb/ft2 Pa (N/m2)
Unit Weight of Rock or Soil lb/ft3 N/m3
Unit Weight of Water 62.4 lb/ft3 9,810 N/m3