3D limit analysis of rock slopes based on equivalent linear failure criterion with tension cut-off

Hoek-Brown (HB) failure criterion is widely used to predict the strength of intact or heavily jointed rock mass. For stability analysis of rock slopes governed by the HB failure criterion, the equivalent linearity to Mohr-Coulomb (MC) criterion is often adopted, leading to the well-known equivalent Mohr-Coulomb method (EMCM). Existing studies on EMCM analysis mainly consider the shear strength of rock material, while consideration of the tensile strength is rare. This contradicts the fact that the underlying tensile strength of rock mass has considerable impact on the rock slope stability in real world. In this regard, this paper proposes a limit analysis-based approach that can account for tension in the three-dimensional (3D) stability analysis of HB rock slope. This approach is established on the equivalent linearity of the HB criterion with consideration of tensile strength, known as the equivalent tension cut-off MC method (ETMCM), and using a horn-like 3D mechanism of limit analysis. The safety factor solutions given by the proposed approach are validated by previous studies and numerical results. Parametric studies are conducted to investigate the effect of rock tensile strength on slope stability. Results show that the consideration of tension leads to a more conservative safety factor and a sharper curvature of the failure surface, and these impacts tend to be more obvious with the increases in slope inclination and slope width. Finally, the stability of the HB rock slope under seepage conditions is studied using the proposed approach. The results indicate that the effect of tensile strength is highly remarkable in seepage circumstances.