2 Posters up all day Tuesday, Thursday, and 8 a.m. to noon Friday - Authors available Monday & Tuesday following the PM Oral Sessions

Monday, 20 June 2022
8:00 AM - 5:15 PM
Grand 'Ole Hall

HOW DOES ANISOTROPY CONTROL ROCK SLOPE DEFORMATION? A DISCRETE ELEMENT MODELLING INVESTIGATION

Paper number: 2-4
Program: Sessions
Time: 8:00 AM – 5:15 PM

Authors

  • Marius Huber Presenting Author
    Université de Lorraine,, F-54000 Nancy

Abstract

Deep-seated failures of rock slopes are partly controlled by structural, lithological and topographical factors. Among structural factors, layering, schistosity and foliation in rock material, which could be described as inherent anisotropy of the material, affect initiation and evolution of deep-seated rock slope deformation, especially in slow moving landslides.

In order to document such an influence of material anisotropy on slope stability, we carry out a parametric study using discrete element modelling (DEM). After a validation exercise for fully isotropic material, where we compare our numerical approach to an analytical slope stability solution, we introduce anisotropy (transverse isotropy) in our DEM model by inserting preferentially oriented and weakened bonds between discrete elements (weakness plane) to simulate two typical transverse isotropic lithologies, claystone and gneiss respectively. Considering these two lithologies, we then explore the influence of the weakness plane’s orientation with respect to the slope angle for both ridge and valley geometries.

We show that certain orientations of the weakness plane relative to the topographic slope favour deep-seated deformation. We also observe significant disparities in failure initiation, failure surface localisation, and mobilized volume depending on the anisotropy orientation. For instance, most unstable slopes occur when the weakness plane rises 10° to 30° less than the hillslope angle. These instabilities are associated with well-localized deformation at depth that when intersecting the surface mimic some of the morphological features (such as counter-slope scarps) that are commonly described along mountain ridges in association with slow-moving and deep-seated rock slope failures.

Our results help explain the appearance or absence of deep-seated failure in mountainous areas and allow to better assess slope failure hazard induced by anisotropic rock strength.

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 54, No. 5

doi: 10.1130/abs/2022PR-376035

© Copyright 2022 The Geological Society of America (GSA), all rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted to the author(s) of this abstract to reproduce and distribute it freely, for noncommercial purposes. Permission is hereby granted to any individual scientist to download a single copy of this electronic file and reproduce up to 20 paper copies for noncommercial purposes advancing science and education, including classroom use, providing all reproductions include the complete content shown here, including the author information. All other forms of reproduction and/or transmittal are prohibited without written permission from GSA Copyright Permissions.