Rock slope stability analysis with a kinematical method for the Nam Phoun dam site project, Laos

Abstract

Rock slope stability is one of the major challenges in the rock engineering. In this paper, Kinematical analysis on the right bank slope of Nam Phoun Hydropower station dam site project has been performed according to the planar sliding and wedge sliding. Field investigation was realized and geometrical properties of rock mass collected, the objective in this paper is to evaluate the stability of the dam site and predict the probable mode of failure; Lower hemisphere stereographic projection of different joints set was realized using a commercial Rocscience program called Dipv.6. Planar sliding and wedge sliding failure performed, show that no probable planar sliding and wedge sliding failure can occur on the right bank slope and for the excavation process; the slope face is stable for dip angle equal to 45.