The role of block ratio and layer thickness on rock slopes movement style

Abstract

In rock slopes, toppling movements are very common. The layers thicknesses and block ratio relative to slopes height might determine the type of slope movements and the style of toppling. In this paper, a numerical parametric study was conducted to evaluate the effect of block ratio and block thickness, in both crystalline and sedimentary rock formations, on the style of rock slopes movement in slopes prone to toppling. The mechanical defects or joints of rocks can be either random or well defined sets depends on the rock mass origin, metamorphic, igneous, or sedimentary. Different styles of movements were observed numerically in this study ranging from block toppling to rock falls. The styles of movement were also compared to the ones observed in the field. The results showed that the style movement is time dependent and three types of movement can be observed in one slope.