Wedge Failure Analysis of the Slope Subjected to Uplift Forces by Analytical Method at Chingola Open Pits F & D

The influence of variable groundwater has been overlooked in the available literature. Yet, wedge failure induced by variable groundwater is still commonly experienced in sedimentary rock formation in many commercial dams, highways, and surface mine slopes around the world. In this article, a robust analytical model for stability analysis of the rock slopes subjected to wedge slope failure induced by variable groundwater is presented. This involves modifying the existing analytical model for estimating the safety factor of the rock slope subjected to wedge failure by incorporating the effects of variable groundwater. The proposed analytical model is validated using a numerical simulation model using the Fast Lagrangian Analysis of Continua in ۳ Dimensions (FLAC۳D) software. Furthermore, a real wedge slope instability at the Chingola Open-Pit Mine (COP F&D) induced by the presence of variable groundwater case history is studied in order to illustrate the effectiveness of the presented analytical model. The investigation results indicate that the presence of variable groundwater has a direct impact on the computed factor of safety of the rock slope subjected to wedge failure. The results obtained entail that the presented analytical model can provide a robust analytical model for the stability analyses of the rock slope subjected to wedge failure considering the presence of variable groundwater.

Keywords:

Wedge failure , jointed rock , Groundwater , Analytical model , Factor of Safety