• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.96-107
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• 1993

This paper deals with the analysis of rock slope stability using the distinct element method. This method consists in analysis of the interaction of discrete block assemblage delimited by elementary joints, which permits to consider the heterogeneous, anisotropic and discontinuous features of the rock mass. In particular, we were able to show that this method, and especially the BRIG3D software, is an outstanding tool which gives informations of greatest interest in order to analyze the toppling mechanisms. We have confirmed the fundamental role of the rock mass structure with different simulations. In the case of toppling phenomena, the essential parameter is the dip of major discontinuities. It has an influence on the intensity and volume of deformations. The anisotropic and heterogeneous features of the rock mass play also an important role. It is proved by insertion of thick rock bars in the structure or varying rock block sizes in the mass. These models modified considerably the stress distribution and the deformation distribution. Finally, we have analyzed the influence of mechanical parameters such as friction angle and tangential stiffness.

• 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.

• 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.

• Explosives and Blasting
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.11-21
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• 2007

The main structure of Gunsan steam power station was demolished by the toppling method using high explosives. Height of a main building is 58m and a total floor area is $292,000m^2$. It is Rahmen(rigid-frame) structure consisted of almost columns and beams and slabs exist only in one part of the building for the electricity generators equipments. To improve the efficiency of blasting work, it is separated into 4 sectors. Blasting floors were 1, 2, 3, & 4 stories from first sector to third sector, while 1, 2, 5, & 7 of fourth sector were blasted because it had not slabs. About 102.675 kg of the MegaMITE were used with 225 electric detonator and 638 non-electric detonators to check detonator connection and confidence of detonation. The blasting noise and vibration were monitored to evaluate the environment effect and the damage of the nearby structures.

• Magazine of the Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.112-121
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• 1997

The aim of this study was to analyze the slope stability relating to the failure of cut slopes and the characteristics of stress-strain relations obtained by limit equilibrium method, finite element method, and stereographic projection method for the reinforced cut slopes. The following conclusions were made : 1.To use stereographic projection method led to little possibility to take the toppling and wedge failure while to use the other methods led to the failure. It was recommended to reduce the slope inclination from 1:1 to 1: 1.5~1 :1.8 and adopt coir mesh method to protect the slope surface. position with the horizontal displacement after final excavation moved to the excavation base. The maximum shear strain values concentrated at the excavation base indicated the possibility to induce the local failure. 3. It was recommended that the slope inclination for blast rock with the slope height larger than l0m was 1: 0.5, 1:1, and 1: 1~1 :1.5 for hard rocks, soft and ordinary rocks, and ripping and soils, respectively. 4. Berm width criteria for blast rock with the slope height larger than l0m were recommended as follow : 2~3m per 20m slope height for hard rocks, 1 ~2m per l0m slope height for soft and ordinary rocks, 1 ~ l.5m per 5m slope height for ripping and soils.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.23 no.11
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• pp.13-18
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• 2022

In this study, the suitability of the grouting method will be evaluated by analyzing seismic reinforcement methods for the stability of gravity structure in Port. The evaluation categories are liquefaction, sliding, toppling and circular failure. To compare the appropriateness of the seismic reinforcement method, the low mobility mortar injection, one of the grouting method and the SPC file and GRB method, which are pile wall type reinforcement methods, were evaluated and compared respectively. The object of the evaluation is the gravitational structure of Po-Hang old port. As a result of the evaluation, both the grouting method and the pile wall type reinforcement method are considered to have sufficient stability. Therefore, in the case of the gravity structure, the grouting method is more efficient than the seismic reinforcement method considering construction efficiency, economic efficiency, maintenance and similar construction cases.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.332-345
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• 2019

Maximum dip vector of individual joint plane, which can be uniquely defined on the hemispherical projection plane, has been established by considering its dip and dip direction. A new stereographic projection method for the rock slope analysis which employs the maximum dip vector can intuitively predict the failure modes of rock slope. Since the maximum dip vector is uniquely projected on the maximum dip point of the great circle, the sliding direction of discontinuity plane can be recognized directly. By utilizing the maximum dip vector of discontinuity both the plane sliding and toppling directions of corresponding blocks can be discerned intuitively. Especially, by allocating the area of high dip maximum dip vector which can form the flanks of sliding block the potentiality for the formation of virtual sliding block has been estimated. Also, the potentiality of forming the triangular-sectioned sliding block has been determined by considering the dip angle of joint plane the dip direction of which is nearly opposite to that of the slope face. Safety factors of the different-shaped blocks of triangular section has been estimated and compared to the safety factor of the most hazardous block of rectangular section. For the wedge analysis the direction of crossline of two intersecting joint planes, which has same attribute of the maximum dip vector, is used so that wedge failures zone can be superimposed on the stereographic projection surface in which plane and toppling failure areas are already lineated. In addition the maximum dip vector zone of wedge top face has been delineated to extract the wedge top face-forming joint planes the orientation of which provides the vital information for the analysis of mechanical behavior of wedge block.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.56 no.10
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• pp.667-678
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• 2023

In this study, quasi-3D inundation flow simulations were conducted for a simplified subway station configuration. The effects of variations in rainwater inflow locations and discharge were investigated, analyzing the resulting inundation flow patterns and flood risk. The inundation simulation results calculated the incipient velocities for slipping and toppling accidents to assess pedestrian safety. The results indicated that velocities exceeding the incipient velocity for slipping accidents mainly occurred on the flooded staircase. Meanwhile, velocities surpassing the incipient toppling accidents were observed around the staircase and the corridor near the staircase leading to B2F. This observation is consistent with the results from the specific force distribution analysis. To provide detailed flood risk assessments, the Flood Hazard Degree (FD) was applied with four levels of criteria, along with the Flood Intensity Factor (FIF). The results demonstrated that FD identified a broader area at risk of flood-induced consequences compared to FIF. When comparing the different inundation risk assessment methods, the specific force method tended to overestimate the risk area, whereas FIF tended to underestimate it. Furthermore, among all assessment methods, the influence of rainwater discharge was found to have a more dominant effect on flood risk assessment compared to the number of rainwater inflow locations. Additionally, the direction of inundation flow influenced the assessed risk, with collision-induced flow patterns leading to higher flood risk than those with identical flow directions.