• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.8 no.5
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• pp.491-504
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• 1999

The initiation of toppling is explored for a uniform stack of blocks that rotates slowly about its mid-base. As the stack passes through its vertical position ($\theta$=0), it is in free-fall rotation, and a critical inclination angle ${\theta}_c$ is reached at which the toppling stack "fails" or begins to crack or separate. For tall stacks (high aspect ratios), two modes of failure are hypothesized, for which the dynamic failure analyses are shown to correlate with experimental results. These block failure modes are similar to those observed for tall, toppling masonry structures with weak binding material between their brick or stone blocks.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2000.11a
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• pp.511-518
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• 2000

Characteristics of joint orientation, length, spacing and their distribution are very important factors for slope stability, Especially, the effect of joint spacing is an essential factor of slope stability. This study is to analyze the effect of joint spacing in cases of sliding and toppling, which is a typical failure mode. Joint spacing can divided into vertical spacing(spacing) and horizontal spacing(gap). And then, the spacing/length ratio of joint directly affect rock slope failure. When the ratio is below 0.05, the possibility of failure is rapidly increased. In case of toppling, the possibility of failure depends on the ratio of spacing to height of slope ratio slope. As the ratio decreases, the possibility of toppling failure increased. The critical ratio of spacing to height of slope is determined by the dip angle of the slope and the orientation of joint sets.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 1997.03a
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• pp.89-96
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• 1997

• Geotechnical Engineering
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.55-66
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• 1998

The purpose of this paper is to formulate and apply the stability analysis of toppling failure by considering the variation of discontinuity characteristics, slope geometry, and loading conditions. The stability condition on toppling failure of rock slope is mainly iuluenced by the dip angle $\alpha_B$ and H/t ratio. In order to check toppling failures in design, the stability charts composed of dip angle $\alpha_B$ versus H/t ratio have been constructed in the paper. In general, smaller dip angle $\alpha_B$ and smaller dip angle $\alpha_B$ and smaller H/T ratio give safer condition. The suggested curves change rapidly at the chitical point around the sone, H/t=4~6. The stable zone in stability charles becomes smaller due to step angle $\data$.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.481-495
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• 2021

This article assesses and estimates the progressive failure mechanism of complex pit-rest secondary toppling of slopes that are located within the vicinity of the Gas Flare Site of Refinery No. 4 in South Pars Special Zone (SPSZ), southwest Iran. The finite element numerical procedure based on the Shear Strength Reduction (SSR) technique has been employed for the stability analysis. In this regard, several step modelling stages that were conducted to evaluate the slope stability status revealed that the main instability was situated on the left-hand side (western) slope in the Flare Site. The toppling was related to the rock column-overburden system in relation to the overburden pressure on the rock columns which led to the progressive instability of the slope. This load transfer from the overburden has most probably led to the separation of the rock column and to its rotation downstream of the slope in the form of a complex pit-rest secondary toppling. According to the numerical modelling, it was determined that the Strength Reduction Factor (SRF) decreased substantially from 5.68 to less than 0.320 upon progressive failure. The estimated shear and normal stresses in the block columns ranged from 1.74 MPa to 8.46 MPa, and from 1.47 MPa to 16.8 MPa, respectively. In addition, the normal and shear displacements in the block columns ranged from 0.00609 m to 0.173 m and from 0.0109 m to 0.793 m, respectively.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.13-23
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• 2010

Toppling failure of a slope is defined as failure behavior accompanying the rotation of rock block which is different from other failure such as sliding along with discontinuities and so on. It generally occurs in the region that discontinuities were developed with inverse dip direction to a slope and it could play a critical role in judging stability of slope. In this study, the stability evaluation was performed about toppling failure on a jointed road cut-slope. To check the deformation behavior, numerical analysis is widely used. However common analysis programs are based on continuum model. Recently, many methods that discontinuity properties can be considered in continuum analysis are suggested. In this study, numerical analysis based on FEM(Finite Element Method) was performed using interface element applied in heterogeneous boundary to simulate effects of discontinuities.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2006.10a
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• pp.268-273
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• 2006

Slope failures can be occurred by complex mechanism. In this cases, failures shows characteristics of complex failure mechanism during progressive mass movements. A case is a merged large slide with two sliding events triggered by slip on fault plane. Another case shows extension of failure area by sliding or subsidence at backyards of toppling areas. Generally, areas of progressive failures have wider than them of simple events.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.308-317
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• 1995

The stability study on the rock slope where have produced failures in Boryung dam site was evaluated using the streonet analysis techniques. SMR(Slope Mass Rating) approach which is suitable for preliminary assessment of slope stability in rock was also carried out for rating rock mass. The 3-4 major discontinuity sets are distributed and all type of failure(plane, wedge and toppling failure) are presented in this slope face. The dip of slope must be lowered to friction angle(26degree), otherwise the possibility of plane and toppling faiue will always exist in this slope.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.463-478
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• 2021

The subjects of the study are the sedimentary rock slope of the Mesozoic Gyeongsang Supergroup, which has a high risk of failure. The orientation of the slope-face represents a variety of changing characteristics. The rocks of the slope shall be sandstone, siltstone and dacite, and discontinuities shall develop beddings, shear joints, extension joints, and dacite dyke boundary planes. The type and scale of failure varies depending on the type of rock and the strike/dip of the discontinuities, but the toppling failure prevails. Based on the face-mapping data, SMR, physical and mechanical testing of rocks, analysis and review of the stereonet projections and the critical equilibrium analysis, all four representative sections required a countermeasure method because the acceptable safety factor during dry and rainy seasons were far below Fs = 1.5 and Fs = 1.2. After applying the countermeasure method, both the dry and wet conditions of the slope exceeded the allowable safety factor. In particular, the face-mapping data of the slope-face, the geological cross-sections of several representative sections perpendicular to the slope-face, and the critical equilibrium analysis and the presentation of countermeasure methods that have been reviewed based on them are expected to be reasonable tools for the slope stability. In addition, it will be possible to use it as basic data for performance evaluation for slope maintenance.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 1998.05a
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• pp.3-34
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• 1998

The stability condition of rock slopes is greatly affected by the geometry and strength parameters of discontinuities in the rock masses. Rock slopes Involving movement of rock blocks on discontinuities are failed by one or combination of the three basic failure modes-plane, wedge, and toppling. In rock mechanics, practically all the parameters such as the joint set characteristics, the rock strength properties, and the loading conditions are always subject to a degree of uncertainty. Therefore, a reasonable assessment of the rock slope stability has to include the excavation of the multi-failure modes, the consideration of uncertainties of discontinuity characteristics, and the decision on stabilization measures with favorable cost conditions. This study was performed to provide a new numerical model of the deterministic analysis, reliability analysis, and reliability-based optimization for rock slope stability. The sensitivity analysis was carried out to verify proposed method and developed program; the parameters needed for sensitivity analysis are design variables, the variability of discontinuity properties (orientation and strength of discontinuities), the loading conditions, and rock slope geometry properties. The design variables to be optimized by the reliability-based optimization include the cutting angle, the support pressure, and the slope direction. The variability in orientations and friction angle of discontinuities, which can not be considered in the deterministic analysis, has a greatly influenced on the rock slope stability. The stability of rock slopes considering three basic failure modes is more influenced by the selection of slope direction than any other design variables. When either plane or wedge failure is dominant, the support system is more useful than the excavation as a stabilization method. However, the excavation method is more suitable when toppling failure is dominant. The case study shows that the developed reliability-based optimization model can reasonably assess the stability of rock slopes and reduce the construction cost.