Mechanism of toppling and deformation in hard rock slope: a case of bank slope of Hydropower Station, Qinghai Province, China

Recently, various toppling slopes have emerged with the development of hydropower projects in the western mountainous regions of China. The slope on the right bank of the Laxiwa Hydropower Station, located on the mainstream of the Yellow River in the Qinghai Province of Northwest China, is a typical hard rock slope. Further, its deformation characteristics are different from those of common natural hard rock toppling. Because this slope is located close to the dam of the hydropower station, its deformation mechanism has a practical significance. Based on detailed geological engineering surveys, four stages of deformation have been identified using discrete element numerical software and geological engineering analysis methods, including toppling creep, initial toppling deformation, intensified toppling deformation, and current slope formation. The spatial and time-related deformation of this site also exhibited four stages, including initial toppling, toppling development, intensification of toppling, and disintegration and collapse. Subsequently, the mechanism of toppling and deformation of the bank slope were studied. The results of this study exhibit important reference value for developing the prevention–control design of toppling and for ensuring operational safety in the hydropower reservoir area.

Large deformation and failure mechanism analyses of Tangba high slope with a high-intensity and complex excavation process

The Tangba high slope is mainly composed of coarse soils and supplies core wall materials for the construction of the Changheba dam. Since the filling intensity of the Changheba dam is high, the Tangba high slope suffers from a high-intensity excavation process, and reinforcement measures are usually not implemented immediately. Moreover, the distribution of useful materials is uneven and insufficient, and the mixing of different soil materials is necessary; thus, multiple simultaneous excavations and secondary excavation are inevitable. In the construction period from 2012 to 2016, large deformations occurred in this area, and one of the largest monitored horizontal deformations whose direction points to the opposite side of the valley even reached more than 8000 mm. According to field investigation, site monitoring and theoretical analysis, the large deformation in the Tangba high slope can be divided into two phases. In the first phase, the excavation construction breaks the original stress equilibrium state; in the second phase, the precipitation infiltration accelerates the deformation. Thus, the excavation construction and precipitation infiltration are the two major factors promoting the deformation, and the high-intensity and complex excavation process is the fundamental cause. Notably, rate of slope deformation significantly accelerated in rainy seasons due to precipitation infiltration; the rate also accelerated in early 2016 due to the high-intensity, complex excavation process. Comprehensively considering the above factors, timely and effective reinforcement measures are essential.

Deformation and failure mechanism of Yanjiao rock slope influenced by rainfall and water level fluctuation of the Xiluodu hydropower station reservoir

With the construction of the Xiluodu hydropower station on the Jinsha River,the reservoir impoundment began in 2013 and the water level fluctuates annually between 540 m and 600 m above sea level.The Yanjiao rock slope which is located on the left bank of the Jinsha River 75 km upstream of the Xiluodu dam site,began to deform in 2014.The potential failure of the slope not only threatens Yanjiao town but also affects the safe operation of the Xiluodu reservoir.This paper is to find the factors influencing the Yanjiao slope deformation through field investigation,geotechnical reconnaissance,and monitoring.Results show that the Yanjiao slope can be divided into a bank collapse area(BCA)and a strong deformation area(SDA)based on the crack distribution characteristics of the slope.The rear area of the slope has been experiencing persistent deformation with a maximum cumulative displacement(GPS monitoring point G4)of 505 mm and 399 mm in the horizontal and vertical directions,respectively.The potential failure surface of the slope is formed 36 m below the surface based on the borehole inclinometer.The bank collapses of the Yanjiao slope are directly caused by the reservoir impoundment while the deformation area of the slope is affected by the combination of the rainfall and reservoir water level fluctuation.Based on mechanism of the Yanjiao slope,prestressed anchor combined with the surface drainage and slope unloading are recommended to prevent potential deformation.

Deformation Mechanism and Stability of a Rocky Slope

A high slope is located on the side of the spillway at a hydropower station in Southwest China, which has some weak inter-layers inclining outwards. Parts of the slope show heavy weathering and unloading. There appeared deformation and tensile crack either on the surface or on the afteredge of the slope during excavation, and under a platform （elev. 488 m）, two levels of slopes collapsed on the downriver side. Based on the investigation in situ and the analysis of the geological structure, the conceptual model of deformation and failure mechanism was erected for this slope. Furthermore, the deformation characteristics were studied with FLAC^3D numerical simulation. Comprehensive analysis shows that the whole deformation of the slope is unloading rebound in certain depth scope and the whole body does not slide along any weak interlayer. In addition, two parts with prominent local deformation in the shallow layer of the slope show the models of ＂creep sfiding-tensile cracking＂ and ＂slidlng-tensile cracking＂, respectively. Based on the above analysis, the corresponding project of support and reinforcement is proposed to make the slope more stable.

Dissociation of gas hydrates by hydrocarbon migration and accumulation-derived slope failures:An example from the South China Sea

The mechanism of slope failure associated with overpressure that is caused by hydrocarbon migration and accumulation remains unclear.High-resolution seismic data and gas hydrate drilling data collected from the Shenhu gas hydrate field(site SH5)offer a valuable opportunity to study the relations between submarine slope failure and hydrocarbon accumulation and flow that is associated with a~2 kmdiameter gas chimney developed beneath site SH5 where none gas hydrates had been recovered by drilling and sampling despite the presence of distinct bottom simulating reflectors(BSRs)and favorable gas hydrate indication.The mechanism of submarine slope failure resulted from buoyancy extrusion and seepage-derived deformation which were caused by overpressure from a~1100 m-high gas column in a gas chimney was studied via numerical simulation.The~9.55 MPa overpressure caused by hydrocarbons that migrated through the gas chimney and then accumulated beneath subsurface gas hydratebearing impermeable sediments.This may have resulted in a submarine slope failure,which disequilibrated the gas hydrate-bearing zone and completely decomposed the gas hydrate once precipitated at site SH5.Before the gas hydrate decomposition,the largely impermeable sediments overlying the gas chimney may have undergone a major upward deformation due to the buoyancy extrusion of the overpressure in the gas chimney,and slope failure was initiated from plastic strain of the sediments and reduced internal strength.Slope failure subsequently resulted in partial gas hydrate decomposition and sediment permeability increase.The pressurized gas in the gas chimney may have diffused into the overlying sediments controlled by seepage-derived deformation,causing an effective stress reduction at the base of the sediments and significant plastic deformation.This may have formed a new cycle of submarine slope failure and finally the total gas hydrate dissociation.The modeling results of buoyancy extrusion and seepage-derived deformation of the overpressure in the gas chimney would provide new understanding in the development of submarine slope failure and the link between slope failure and gas hydrate accumulation and dissociation.

Numerical analysis of slope collapse using SPH and the SIMSAND critical state model

Geological disasters such as slope failure and landslides can cause loss of life and property.Therefore,reproducing their evolution process is of great importance for risk assessment and mitigation.The recently developed SIMSAND critical state sand model combined with the smoothed particle hydrodynamics(SPH)method is adopted in this work to study slope failure under large deformations.To illustrate the efficiency and accuracy of the SIMSAND-SPH approach,a series of slope collapse studies using the discrete element method(DEM)considering various particle shapes(i.e.spherical,tetrahedral and elongated)is adopted as benchmarks.The parameters of the SIMSAND model are calibrated using DEM triaxial tests.In comparison to the DEM simulations,the runout distance and final slope height are well characterized with the SIMSAND-SPH approach with less computational cost.All comparisons show that the SIMSAND-SPH approach is highly efficient and accurate,which can be an alternative numerical tool to simulate real scale granular flow.

Engineering Geological Problems of Levee Along Middle and Lower Reaches of Yangtze River

The levee along middle and lower reaches of Yangtze, about 3 600 km long, was built mostly on loose quaternary deposit with changeful complicated formation and geologic defects. Hence, during flood season, dangerous events occur frequently, which imperil the levee’s safety and pose great threats to life and property of people behind the levee. According to the exploration and investigation results, a classification of subsoil profile is made. And then the analysis on main engineering geologic problems, i.e seepage failure of dyke and bank slope instability, is conducted. The internal relations between main engineering geologic problems and subsoil profile are found out, which provides a scientific basis for the design of strengthening dykes.

Stability of High Slope Interbedded Strata with Low Dip Angle Constituted by Soft and Hard Rock Mass

Slopes consisting of interbedded strata of soft and hard rock mass, such as purplish red mudstone and grey brown arkosic sandstone of Jurassic age, are very common in Sichuan basin of China. The mudstone is soft while the sandstone is hard and contains many opening or closing joints with a high dip angle. Some are nearly parallel and the others are nearly decussated with the trend of the slopes. Many natural slopes are in deformation or sliding because of those reasons. The stability of cutting slopes and supporting method to be taken for their stability in civil engineering are important. In this paper, the stability and deformation of the slopes are studied. The methods of analysis and support design principle are analyzed also. Finally, the method put forward is applied to study Fengdian high cutting slope in Sichuan section of the express way from Chengdu to Shanghai. The results indicate that the method is effective.

Investigation on the Deformation and Failure Patterns of Loess Cut Slope Based on the Unsaturated Triaxial Test in Yan'an,China

The large-scale implementation of the Gully Stabilization and Land Reclamation(GSLR)project induces various failures of loess slopes due to excavation in Yan'an,China.However,the deformation and failure behavior of these excavated loess slopes have not been fully understood.In this study,field investigation was undertaken for analyzing the distributions and failure features of excavation-induced loess slope failures.It is found that plastic failure mainly occurs in Q_(3) loess layers and brittle failure in Q_(2).To understand the underlying failure mechanism,a series of triaxial shear tests were conducted on intact Q_(3) and Q_(2) loess samples that with different water contents,namely natural water content(natural),dry side of the natural value(drying 5%),and wet side(wetting 5%).The characteristics of stress-strain curves and failure modes of the samples were analyzed.Results show that the stress-strain curves of Q_(2) samples are dominated by strain-softening characteristics,while Q_(3) samples mainly exhibit strain-harden features except in the drying state.Correspondingly,shear failures of Q_(3) specimens are mainly caused by shear crack planes(single,X or V-shaped).For Q_(2) loess,the dominance of tensile cracks is observed on the surface of damaged specimens.These disclose the different failure modes of excavated slopes located in different strata,that is,the arc sliding failure of Q_(3) loess slopes and the stepped tensile failure of Q_(2) loess slopes,and are helpful in the design and management of the ongoing GSLR projects in the Loess Plateau.

Large-Scale Test Model of the Progressive Deformation and Failure of Cracked Soil Slopes

A large-scale test bed(LWH=6 m×3 m×2.8 m)instrumented with various sensors is used to examine the effects of rainfall infiltration and evaporation on the deformation and failure of cracked soil slopes,taking the Anhui area along the Yangtze River as a field example.The results indicate that(1)during rainfall,the soil around the shallow shrinkage fissures attains transient saturation,and the attendant decrease of matric suction is the primary cause of the shallow slope failure;(2)slope deformation continues during post-rainfall evaporation;(3)if a period of evaporation is followed by heavy rainfall,soil creep is concentrated near the deepest cracks,and two zones of steep gradients in pore pressure form at the crest and toe of the slope.Finally,a saturated zone forms near each crack base and gradually enlarges,eventually forming a continuous saturated layer that induces the slope instability or failure.

浙江省山区输电线路塔位边坡变形破坏主要类型与防治建议

山区输电线路铁塔基础施工改变了塔位附近原始微地形、覆盖植被等环境地质条件,岩土体内部原有应力状态发生了变化,在各种自然营力作用下,每年在浙江省山区会发生一定数量塔位边坡的变形与破坏。根据影响因素、变形破坏机理分析,结合现场勘查及实际情况,划分为坍塌、滑坡、流坍等边坡变形破坏类型,经研究总结得出其主要发育特征,并提出了防治建议。

楞古水电站V线右岸边坡深部裂隙成因及边坡稳定性分析

针对楞古水电站V线右岸边坡深部裂隙发育特征,以边坡工程地质条件及坡体结构为基础,结合嘎夏帕滑坡破坏模式对其深部裂隙成因进行了分析,认为其深部裂隙是由于边坡滑移-剪切变形所造成,且边坡缓倾角结构面发育程度决定了边坡深部裂隙分布范围及张开度。分析边坡深部裂隙变形程度,结合边坡整体稳定性FLAC3D模拟,得出蓄水后边坡上游侧稳定性较边坡下游侧更低,以后对边坡采取合理的支护措施提供了可靠的依据,并为同类水电站蓄水边坡稳定性研究提供了参考。

Sediment-Loading Processes in a Forested Catchment: Modeling and Observations

In order to investigate sediment-loading processes in a catchment, the daily time series of river discharge and sediment load were applied to a semi-distributed model, the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT). The time series of discharge and sediment load were obtained by monitoring the river stage and water turbidity of the Oikamanai River, Hokkaido, Japan, in the rainfall season (April-November) of 2011-2014. The catchment is forested (ca 90% area) but underlain by the Neogene sedimentary rocks with currently active faults and forest soils with tephra layers, which tend to frequently produce slope failure such as landslide and bank collapse by rainfall or snowmelt. The water turbidity, T, in ppm was converted into suspended sediment concentration, SSC, in g/L by applying the linear relationship between T and SSC. The acquisition of the time series of discharge, Q (m3/s) and sediment load, L (=Q·SSC in g/s) of the river allowed us to distinguish the fluvial sediment transport, accompanied by slope failure in the upstream, from that under no slope failure. The SWAT was used to simulate soil erosion and identify the region prone to the soil erosion in the Oikamanai River basin. The model’s results showed a satisfactory agreement between daily observed and simulated sediment load as indicated by the high Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency. This evidences that the upper mountainous region of the catchment provides a main sediment source, accompanied by slope failure.

断层斜交岩质高边坡开挖变形特征及其治理效果评价--以陕南地区某岩质高边坡为例

为厘清断层斜交岩质高边坡开挖变形特性以及边坡治理后的时变特性,以陕南地区某断层斜交岩质高边坡为例,综合采用现场调查、数值模拟以及多点位移监测等方法分析断层斜交岩质高边坡破坏机制,归纳了断层斜交岩质高边坡的主要致灾因子,分析了边坡开挖过程中的变形特性,并探讨了边坡治理的时效性。结果表明:研究区域地形陡峭,受断层和坡脚开挖影响呈现出典型临空地形地貌,且受地质构造影响,出露岩体破碎程度较高,节理裂隙发育;基于数值仿真论证了断层斜交岩质高边坡采用“上部锚索锁固+中部坡体刷方+下部锚索和抗滑桩加固”方案治理的可行性,现场调查和监测数据结果表明边坡治理效果明显;断层处流土溶蚀效应明显,强降雨诱发岩质高边坡后缘断层附近平台发生塌陷,在断层和坡脚部位增设排水措施后坡体病害得到有效缓解,整体变形速率得到有效控制。研究成果对断层斜交岩质高边坡的治理及破坏机制分析具有参考意义。

库水升降作用下灰岩岸坡稳定性数值研究

基于现场调研与采样,采用室内力学试验测定灰岩力学参数与干湿循环下强度劣化规律;基于UDEC建立库岸边坡数值模型,研究了三峡库区反倾岸坡、顺层岸坡、近水平层状岸坡及含危岩体岸坡在库水升降作用下的失稳演化过程及消落带劣化深度与岩层厚度对岸坡稳定性的影响规律。结果表明:库水升降作用下岸坡的失稳过程可以分为裂隙萌生发育、裂隙发展贯通和坡体失稳破坏阶段;随着消落带劣化深度的增加,4种岸坡稳定性系数降低;随着岩层厚度的增加,4种岸坡的稳定性系数升高。近水平层状岸坡稳定性系数受以上2种因素影响最大,而随着干湿循环次数增加发生的变化最小;当劣化深度大于10 m以及岩层厚度大于5 m时,含危岩体岸坡稳定性系数随影响因素水平变化而产生的变化量较小。长远来看,受库水影响的4种典型岩质岸坡稳定性从大到小依次为反倾岸坡、近水平层状岸坡、顺层岸坡、含危岩体岸坡。

含断层构造露天边坡变形破坏特征及稳定性研究

为了探究断层构造对露天边坡变形破坏特征及稳定性的影响,采用遥感影像、现场调查与数值模拟研究手段开展了含断层构造的露天边坡变形破坏特征及安全系数计算研究,并进行了边坡变形破坏发展分析,揭示了含断层构造露天边坡变形破坏特征规律。结果表明:露天采场北部边坡产生滑塌灾害是断层构造(内因)、井下矿体开采卸荷(外因)共同作用的结果。在地下矿体开采扰动与F15断层切割的作用下,边坡易形成沿断层构造滑坡垮塌并不断扩大滑塌区域。F15断层构造以上坡体的变形位移相对较大,且沿F15断层构造向东部沟谷发展,F15断层构造改变了北部边坡上部坡体的变形破坏趋势。露天采场边坡安全系数为1.45时,潜在滑动面为F15断层构造;北部边坡沿断层构造尚未出现大变形。

供水工程新近系红层区斜坡深层变形破坏模式分析

针对新近系红层区斜坡变形破坏模式认识不足的问题,通过对以往工程区斜坡破坏现象的调查分析,寻找已有深层破坏形成的滑坡体,反分析滑坡体破坏前原始斜坡地质结构模型,并建立典型斜坡深层破坏模式,根据变形体主要工程地质条件,建立红层斜坡变形体的三维数值模型,分析其在天然、地震及降雨等条件下的稳定性。结果表明,通过建立的新近系地层不同岩段区斜坡深层破坏模式,识别出新近系地层区供水工程20#支线沿线有一个大型深层破坏斜坡变形体。该斜坡变形体在降雨条件下的稳定性较差。

供水工程民和组地层区斜坡深层变形破坏模式分析

目的红层软岩斜坡深层变形破坏具有一定隐蔽性,为解决寻找和识别具有一定隐蔽性的民和组地层区斜坡深层变形破坏变形体的问题。方法结合引黄济宁供水工程,依据民和组地层区斜坡变形破坏现象的调查分析,寻找已有深层破坏形成的滑坡体,反分析滑坡体破坏前原始斜坡模型,模拟分析原始斜坡滑动破坏触发因素,建立民和组地层区典型斜坡深层变形破坏模式;然后根据建立的斜坡深层变形破坏模式,寻找识别民和组地层区深层变形破坏斜坡变形体,对典型斜坡变形体构建三维数值模拟模型,分析天然、地震及降雨等条件下的斜坡变形体的稳定性。结果通过研究,建立了民和组地层区不同岩段典型斜坡深层变形破坏模式,识别出民和组地层区供水工程22#支线沿线有一个大型深层变形破坏斜坡变形体,在暴雨条件下会沿砾岩层与泥岩夹层交接面发生深层滑动破坏。结论通过建立典型斜坡深层变形破坏模式识别深层变形破坏斜坡变形体并分析其工程稳定性,可以减少意外发生斜坡深层变形破坏现象,研究成果可为工程施工图设计提供依据,也为民和组地层区地质灾害分析提供参考。

珠海市南水镇金龙边坡变形破坏特征及稳定性评价

边坡稳定性分析评价是边坡调查评价过程中一个不可或缺的环节。以珠海市金龙边坡为研究对象,分析了边坡的发育特征、影响因素、形成机制。在查明边坡岩土体出露及结构特征基础上,根据典型断面C、ϕ值反演分析及敏感性分析结果,确定金龙边坡岩土体物理力学参数,采用极限平衡法对金龙边坡进行稳定性分析评价。评价结果表明:金龙边坡在天然工况下处于欠稳定状态,在饱和及饱和+地震工况下处于不稳定状态。

新型高聚物微型桩加固工程斜坡的抗滑性能模型试验研究

基于高聚物材料成型快、力学性能优异与微型桩施工非开挖、扰动小、场地适应性强的特点,提出一种用于工程斜坡突发滑坡灾害防治加固的新型高聚物微型桩技术。通过自主设计的工程斜坡加固模型试验装置,开展不同设计方案下高聚物微型桩加固效果试验,分析高聚物微型桩的抗滑性能、加固机理、桩体破坏形式与受力变形特征。研究结果表明:高聚物微型桩成型快,具有优异的强度性能,能够有效提高滑坡体的承载能力。在滑坡推力的作用下,桩身呈现出“S”型变形,变形区域主要集中在滑面附近,桩体会发生一定程度的偏转。不同埋深处桩体的剪力与弯矩沿滑面整体呈对称三角形分布,靠近滑面附近的剪力与弯矩最大。在无筋和加筋2种方案下,滑坡体所能承受的极限荷载分别为35 kPa和50 kPa,桩体偏转角度分别为2°和1°,加筋后,桩体承受的最大剪应力约为无筋桩体的1.55倍,其最大弯矩约为无筋桩体的2.75倍。