Nonlinear Strength Reduction Method of Rock Mass in Slope Stability Evaluation

Area of Science:

• Geotechnical Engineering
• Rock Mechanics
• Slope Stability Analysis

Background:

• Traditional nonlinear strength reduction methods often rely on the Mohr-Coulomb criterion, which inadequately represents the nonlinear behavior of rock masses.
• Slope instability involves differential degradation of rock mass strength parameters, necessitating nuanced reduction approaches.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a nonlinear strength reduction technique for rock slope stability assessment using the Hoek-Brown criterion.
• To address the limitations of existing methods in capturing the nonlinear performance of rock masses.

Main Methods:

• Derived relationships for critical slope parameters based on safety factor definitions.
• Determined the reduction ratio of uniaxial compressive strength (σ) to the Hoek-Brown constant (m) using the shortest path theory.
• Employed the k-means algorithm for automated identification of potential sliding surfaces.
• Calculated the slope safety factor as the ratio of sliding resistance to sliding force.

Main Results:

• Developed a critical curve relating the Hoek-Brown constant (m) and uniaxial compressive strength (σ).
• Established a method to determine the reduction ratio of σ to m based on parameter deterioration.
• The k-means algorithm effectively identified critical sliding surfaces for safety factor calculation.

Conclusions:

• The proposed Hoek-Brown criterion-based nonlinear reduction method provides a more objective and accurate evaluation of rock slope stability.
• Verification against published literature demonstrates superior efficacy compared to existing methods.