Large Open Pit Slope Stability

May 16 2005, Purdue University
Large Open Pit Slope Stability

John Read

MINE OWNERS REQUIREMENTS
1. Reliably engineered mine slopes
2. If slopes do fail there will be
* no loss of life
* no equipment damage
* no sustained loss of production
* an ability to achieve published reserves
May 16 2005, Purdue Geotechnical Society
John Read
OWNERS EXPECTATION
Accepted practice delivering reliably designed

mine slopes that meet performance criteria
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Knowledge Provided by Accepted Practice
* Geological/geotechnical model The Model
* Material properties
* Groundwater conditions
Backed by:
* 3D visualisation tools
* LE & numerical modelling stability analyses
* Monitoring during mining
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Owners Dilemma
Shortcomings in delivery not uncommon
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Questions
1. Why do we experience shortcomings in delivery?

2. What have we missed?
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Partial Answers
No unified design approach amongst practitioners
* Divided opinions on how to characterise the rock mass
* Divided opinions on a definitive rock mass formulae
* Uncritical derivation of physical rock properties from
classification systems such as RQD, RMR & MRMR
* Uncritical use of such physical rock properties in design
analyses without a clear understanding of the geological
framework
No unified industry understanding of best practice
John Read
Requirements & Guiding Tenets for LOP Research

* Step outside the box and reassess the fundamentals of
rock mass strength and slope failure mechanisms from
first principles (we cannot continue as we are)
* Prepare a new generation best practice design manual
that clearly sets out the total design process, what
works (and why), and what doesnt work (and why not)
* Clearly understand and define how to manage risk
John Read

Outcome
LOP Project with Three Research Streams
1. Pit Slope Design Manual incorporating new research outcomes
2. Pit Slope Design fundamental rethink of rock mass behaviour
3. Risk Management quantifying uncertainty & risk reduction
Think like a rock coalesce the realities of natural processes
with the mathematical abstractions of numerical modelling
John Read
Fundamental
Slope failures are geological events that are
controlled by physical processes
if you do not know what you are looking for
you are not likely to find much of value
Glossop, 1968
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State of Practice Divides into 2 Categories

* Structurally controlled, kinematically possible
* Rock mass failure
Analyses utilise Mohr-Coulomb failure

* Acceptable for structurally controlled failures (wedges, etc)
* Introduces difficulties in rock mass
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Rock Mass Environment
Excavation & Deepening = Dilational Environment
* slope deforms
* incipient structures exploited
* failures propagate
- benches
- interramp slopes
- overall slopes
How do we estimate the reliability of the slope?

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Empirical Estimates, Fs - Current Best
* Slope versus Height Charts - any number

* Bieniawski Chart
* Haines & Terbrugge Chart (max H = 300 m)
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LE Analyses, Fs & Pf - Current Best
Attempts to model progressive failure with
candidate surface along
* pre-existing structures
* rock mass
* rock bridges between pre-existing joints
Deformation/displacement not represented
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LE Example
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Numerical Modelling, Fs - Current Best
* Can model progressive failure & displacement
* Can estimate Fs where failure mechanism changes as
progressive failure occurs
BUT
* Obtaining realistic input data difficult
* Interpretation of results difficult
* Not trivial, ie, extending perceived state-of-art
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Numerical Example
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Common Factors in Analyses
Available analyses dictate the input of & c
& c for Rock Mass applied as smeared or
average non-directional rock mass parameters
* If totally confined this may be acceptable
* Not acceptable in dilational open pit environment
Inability to account for the D factor
Realism of smeared & c values
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They always say time changes things but

you actually have to change them yourself
- Andy Warhol
So, back to basics
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Where do Rock Mass and c values come from?

Estimates, mostly
* Bieniawski-RMR, MRMR charts
* Hoek-Brown (GSI, UCS, mi)
Do we need them?
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In The Open Pit Environment
* Rock mass intersected by 1st & 2nd order structures
* Structured rock mass dilates
* Existing & incipient structures open up
* Particles may separate and move about
* Large deformations may occur
* Stability may be controlled by particle interlock or
some other energy form rather than particle friction
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Task 1
SIROMODEL
Represent structured rock mass with 3D model that
creates polyhedral blocks from structural distribution
data characterised by position, orientation and
persistence.
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Task 2
Use SIROMODEL to visualise and evaluate likely
pathways for candidate failure surfaces along or
through a combination of incipient structures, rock
bridges and/or weak rock
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Task 3
Use SIROMODEL with particle flow codes and/or other
numerical codes to evaluate how the structured rock
mass deforms in the stress environment of an open pit
and how the candidate failure surface may propagate
through the dilating rock mass along the path of the
least shear and/or tension resistance.
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Task 4
Evaluate the rock mass characterisation data and

recognise/define those attributes that control the
strength of the structured rock mass as it deforms
and the candidate failure surfaces propagate.
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Task 4 Question (1/2)
Is it likely that the strength of a dilated rock mass

comprised of individual particles or blocks of rock
that may be free to separate and move about is a
function of particle interlock or some other energy
function rather than particle friction ( & c) as
dictated by the Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion?
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Task 4 Question (2/2)
For a structure or set of unfavourably oriented

structures of given shear strength and persistence,
combined with the intact rock strength, pore
pressure and stress, is it possible to determine Pf
without having to estimate the rock mass strength?
John Read
Answers
Work in Progress
John Read
John Read

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May 16 2005, Purdue University