Rock Mech. Rock Engng.

(1999) 32 (2), 157164

Technical Note Implicit and Explicit Modelling of Flexural Buckling of Foliated Rock Slopes
By

S. R. Pant1 and D. P. Adhikary2

1 Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Western Australia; Nedlands, Australia 2 CSIRO Exploration and Mining, Queensland, Australia

1. Introduction Rock masses are often found to be intersected by a set of joints forming a layered structure. When slopes are excavated parallel to the discontinuities, individual rock layers (columns) may buckle under their own weight, thus giving rise to a socalled mechanism of buckling failure. If the slope is not a steep one and the plane of discontinuities does not correspond to the surface of the slope, buckling rarely happens. Cavers (1981) analysed buckling failure in sedimentary rock layer using the concept of Euler buckling load. Cavers assumes that only a certain portion of the rock layer located in the toe region undergoes buckling. On the basis of the base friction test, he found out that the ratio of the length of the rock layer actually undergoing buckling to the total length of rock layer (which will be called from now on as buckling ratio) ranges in between 0.360.46. In his calculations, he further assumes this ratio to be 0.5 (being on the conservative side) and calculates the following expression for the critical loading parameter of a slope: gH 3 p2 sin cos tan fj 1 Eh 2 2X25 1

where H is the slope height, is the slope angle, g is the unit weight of the layer, h is the layer thickness, E is the Young's modulus in the direction of layering and fj is the joint friction angle. The assumption of a xed buckling ratio may not be applicable for all slope geometries. In fact, in any theoretical formulation, this ratio must evolve automatically as a function of slope geometry. Such a xed buckling ratio imposes a constraint in the model formulation, giving conservative results for gentler slopes

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and non-conservative for steeper slopes. Furthermore, Cavers (1981) only considers the stabilising eect of the forces acting perpendicular to the rock masses by incorporating the shear resistance along the interface. The role of the compressive force itself in stabilising the buckling of rock layer is not incorporated in his formulation. This can be best argued by imagining a hypothetical sub-vertical slope with smooth interface (i.e. zero joint friction angle). In this case, the eect of a compressive force acting in the direction perpendicular to the rock mass layer will simply vanish in simpler models such as Cavers (1981). A comprehensive analysis of buckling mechanism of a foliated slope can be conducted numerically. There are essentially two approaches which can be used for simulating the behaviour of foliated rock masses. These are the explicit joint models and the implicit joint (equivalent continuum) models. The former involves an explicit representation of joints in model formulation, e.g. Goodman et al. (1968); Cundall and Hart (1992), whereas the latter involves dening an equivalent material, which is eectively considered to behave as a rock mass. The implicit models possess specic advantages over explicit models, i.e. (1) these models become extremely exible since no interface ( joint) elements are needed and hence the topology of the nite element becomes independent of the joint orientation and spacing; therefore, one mesh can be used to conduct a parametric study, and (2) in this case, unlike the discrete (explicit) models, unconditionally stable integration can be used via implicit algorithms. Use of such implicit models becomes even more justiable in solving load deformation problems in structured rock masses, where detailed information regarding the intact rock and joints is usually not available. In such cases, explicit modelling becomes unnecessarily expensive as any extra degree of accuracy obtained in numerical calculations may not necessarily produce more accurate predictions because of a number of uncertainties involved in the model input parameters. In the models based on conventional equivalent continuum approach, the layered material is replaced with a homogeneous anisotropic medium, characterised by the so-called eective elastic moduli comprising the heterogeneity of the medium. The methods of computing the eective characteristics for layered materials were rst proposed by Lifshitz and Rosenzweig (1946) for arbitrary anisotropic materials of the layers; and then by Salamon (1968) for the case of transversely isotropic layers, and Gerrard (1982) for the case of orthotropic layers. If sliding between the layers can occur, the equivalent continuum should be viewed as a continuum of elasto-plastic type e.g. Zienkiewicz and Pande (1977), Gerrard and Pande (1985), Alehossein and Carter (1990). Such implicit models may provide reasonably accurate predictions when joint shear stiness is considerably large (i.e. the eective shear modulus of the equivalent continuum medium does not dier considerably from that of an individual layer). In this case, the joint slip will remain minimal and consequently the layer bending can be neglected. However, when the joint shear stiness is either low from the very beginning or becomes smaller or even vanishes during the deformation process, the layers may bend as they slip against each other. Since the material resistance (i.e. the bending rigidity of the layers) to bending is not included in the model formulation, the implicit models may considerably overes-

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timate the deformation. In such situations, it is necessary to use the theories which take into account the bending resistance of the layers. This is achieved by formulating a continuum model of layered materials on the basis of the Cosserat theory (Cosserat and Cosserat, 1909). The Cosserat theory of elasticity incorporates a local rotation of material points as an independent parameter in addition to the translation assumed in the classical continuum, and couple (moment) stresses (moments per unit area), plus the classical (force) stresses (forces per unit area). In Mu hlhaus (1993) and Zvolinskii and Shkhinek (1984), a Cosserat model was formulated for the case of elastic joints. A Cosserat model with elastic-plastic joints was formulated in Adhikary and Dyskin (1997, 1998). In these earlier models, the deformation was assumed to be innitesimal and hence their applicability was limited. A detailed description of the Cosserat model incorporating a large deformation formulation is presented in Adhikary et al. (1998). This paper is aimed at investigating the mechanism of exural buckling failure of foliated rock slopes, using both explicit and implicit (a large deformation Cosserat continuum model) models. The explicit model will also be used in investigating the eect of cross joints in critical buckling loads. 2. Numerical Analysis In this study, a nite dierence code (FLAC) is used for the explicit treatment of joints and layers. First of all, a comprehensive study was conducted to assess the eects of mesh density on numerical accuracy. For this reason, a rock column with a height to thickness ratio of 30 was adopted. The column was perfectly clamped at the base and a small horizontal load was applied at the top corner of the model (Fig. 1a). The column was then subjected to incremental gravity loading. A number of grid densities were used and successive buckling loads were computed. A plot between the critical loading factor and the grid density is shown in Fig. 1b. It can be seen in Fig. 2 that a grid size of 4 150 would be expected to provide an accurate buckling load for a rock layer with the height to thickness ratio of 30. Hence in further calculations, this mesh conguration was adopted. Similar calculations were conducted with the Cosserat nite element model to select the right mesh density for implicit computing purposes (Fig. 1c). On the basis of this result, a Cosserat nite element mesh with 410 8-noded quadrilaterals were used in further calculation (Fig. 1d). Figure 2a shows a typical nite dierence grid adopted in the explicit modelling of buckling failure of foliated rock slopes. Once the choice of an acceptable grid density was made, further investigation was conducted to nd out whether there would be any eects of the number of rock layers (used in dening the explicit model geometry) in the value of computed critical load. For this reason, a number of calculations were conducted for the case of a 85 slope with 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 12 rock layers in succession. In all the cases, the rock joints were assumed to possess zero friction angle. It turns out that the lower the number of rock layers, the higher the value of critical buckling parameter (Fig. 2b). Thus, it can be envisaged that one would obtain a non-conservative critical slope height if the number of rock layers used is small. Further numerical computations were con-

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Fig. 1ad. Selection of mesh density. a A typical mesh used in FLAC for computing the critical load of a column; b A plot showing the convergence of solution with mesh renement (FLAC); c A plot showing the convergence of solution with mesh renement (Cosserat); d A typical mesh used in Cosserat model for computing the critical load of slopes

ducted by using the Cosserat nite element model for the same slope parameters. It can be seen that, as the number of rock layers increases, the explicit numerical results become almost asymptotic to the Cosserat model result (Fig. 2b). Figure 3 shows the post buckling geometry of slopes with dierent slope angles as obtained from the explicit and the implicit models. It is seen that the length of the rock layer undergoing actual buckling increases with the increase in the slope angle. The length of the rock layer undergoing actual buckling is observed to approximately double with the increase in slope angle from 80 to 88 . Figure 4a compares the results obtained from the explicit (FLAC) and the Cosserat models for a range of slope angles. It can be seen that the discrepancies between the Cosserat model and the Explicit (FLAC) model results are only marginal. Further calculations were conducted using the Cosserat model, and

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Fig. 2. a A typical nite dierence grid used in FLAC; b Solution convergence with increase in the number of rock layers in the explicit model

Fig. 3ad. Post buckling conguration. a FLAC result for slope angle of 80 ; b FLAC result for slope angle of 88 ; c Cosserat result for slope angle of 80 ; d Cosserat result for slope angle of 88

critical buckling loads were computed for a range of slope angles for the case of joint, friction angles of 0 and 20 . The results of these calculations are presented in Fig. 4b. This gure can readily be used as a design chart for assessing the stability of slopes against exural buckling.

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Fig. 4a,b. Critical loading factor for a range of slope angles. a Plots showing the FLAC and Cosserat results; b Plots obtained from Cosserat calculations for joint friction angles of 0 and 10

Fig. 5a,b. Post buckling conguration of a 85 slope. a Cross joints extended to rst four layers; b 3 cross joints in the rst layer 3 hinge type failure

In order to investigate whether the presence of cross joints in the rock layer has any eect on the critical buckling load, a number of explicit (FLAC) calculations were conducted for a particular slope angle of 85 . First of all, cross joints with friction angle of 20 were introduced in 1, 2, 3 and 4 layers in succession just above the toe of the slope, as shown in Fig. 5a, and numerical computations were carried out successively. It was observed that the critical loading parameters for these 4 dierent cases diered only marginally (by less than 10%) from those computed for the case of no cross joints. Another calculation was conducted by introducing three cross joints in foremost layer to see whether 3-hinge type failure would have any dierent critical loading factor. The post buckling geometry as obtained from explicit modelling is presented in Fig. 5b. The critical loading parameter, in this case also, was not observed to deviate by more than 10% from that of the case without the cross joint. This result, however, seems contradictory to the case of a single column loaded under similar condition. It is well known that a single column with a hinged condition prescribed at one end will have its buckling load reduced by four times to that of a column perfectly clamped at one and. Such an

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independency of the cross joints in the critical load can be attributed to the eect of neighbouring rock layers which will provide some constraint to the buckling rock layers. Buckling in the case of foliated rock slopes is rather an unilateral problem and therefore diers from the case of an isolated column, which is virtually free to buckle in either direction. 3. Conclusions The mechanism of buckling failure of foliated rock slopes has been studied, using equivalent continuum (implicit joint) model based on Cosserat continuum theory and explicit joint model (FLAC). A number of explicit (FLAC) calculations were conducted for the cases of a 85 slope with 1, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 12 rock layers. It is found that the explicit model (FLAC) over-predicts the critical buckling factor for the slope with fewer layers. It is observed that as the numbers of layers increase (i.e. the cases of 8 and 12 layers), the explicit solution becomes asymptotic and converges to the Cosserat solution. FLAC with at least 8 layers and the Cosserat models are found to yield similar critical loading factors, with a minimal margin of error for a range of slope angles. On the basis of the limited number of FLAC calculations conducted, it is concluded that the presence of cross joints would have minimal eect in ultimate critical loading factor. The dierence between the critical loading factors for a slope, with and without cross joints, is observed to be less than 10%. On the basis of these calculations, a design chart suitable for assessing the stability of foliated rock slopes is presented. In the light of uncertainties involved in determining the rock mass property and the fact that the eect of pore water is ignored in the calculations conducted, it is recommended that the plot for the joint friction angle of zero degree produced in Fig. 4b be used for design purposes. References
Adhikary, D. P., Dyskin, A. V. (1997): A cosserat continuum model for layered materials. Comput. Geotechn. 20(1), 1545. Adhikary, D. P., Dyskin, A. V. (1998): A continuum model of layered rock masses with non-associated joint plasticity. Int. J. Numer. Anal. Meth. Geomech. 22, 245261. Adhikary, D. P., Mu hlhaus, H.-B., Dyskin, A. V. (1998): Modelling the large deformations in stratied media the cosserat continuum approach. Mech. Cohes.-Frict. Mater. (in press). Alehosssein, H., Carter, J. P. (1990): On the implicit and explicit inclusion of joints in the analysis of rock masses. In: Rossmanith, H. P. (ed.), Mechanics of jointed and faulted rocks. Balkema, Rotterdam, 487494. Cavers, D. S. (1981): Simple methods to analyse buckling of rock slopes. Rock Mech. Rock Engng. 14, 87104. orie des corps de formables. Hermann, Paris. Cosserat, E., Cosserat, F. (1909): The Cundall, P. A., Hart, R. D. (1992): Numerical modelling of discontinua. Engng. Comp. 9, 101113.

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Gerrard, C. M. (1982): Elastic models of rock masses having one, two and three sets of joints. Int. J. Rock Mech. Min. Sci. Geomech. Abstr. 19, 1523. Gerrard, C. M., Pande, G. N. (1985): Numerical modelling of reinforced jointed rock masses I. Theory. Comput. Geotechn. 1, 293318. Goodman, R. E., Taylor, R. L., Brekke, T. A. (1968): A model for the mechanics of jointed rock. J. Soil Mech. Found. Div., Proc. ASCE 94, 637659. Lifshitz, I. M., Rosenzweig, L. N. (1946): On the theory of elastic properties of polycrystals. JETP 16(11) and letter to the editor. On the theory of elastic properties of polycrystals. JETP (1951) 21(10). Mu hlhaus, H.-B. (1993): Continuum models for layered and blocky rock. Comprehensive rock engineering. Invited Chapter for vol. II: Analysis and design methods. Pergamon Press, Oxford 209230. Salamon, M. D. G. (1968): Elastic moduli of stratied rock mass. Int. J. Rock Mech. Min. Sci. Geomech. Abstr. 5, 519527. Zienkiewicz, O. C., Pande, J. N. (1977): Time dependent multilaminate model of rocks a numerical study of deformation and failure of rock masses. Int. J. Numer. Anal. Meth. Geomech. 1, 219247. Zvolinskii, N. V., Shkhinek, K. N. (1984): Continual model of laminar elastic medium. Mech. Solids 19(1), 19. Authors' address: Dr. Deepak P. Adhikary, CSIRO Exploration and Mining, Queensland Centre for Advanced Technologies, PO Box 883, Kenmore, Qld 4069, Australia.