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Geosciences
Special Issues
Rock Slope Stability Analysis
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Rock Slope Stability Analysis

A special issue of Geosciences (ISSN 2076-3263).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 October 2022) | Viewed by 9127

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Elisabetta Cattoni

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Guest Editor
eCampus Universit, Novedrate, Italy
Interests: slope stability; earthquake engineering; tunneling-induced building damage
Prof. Gessica Umili

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Guest Editor
Department of Earth Sciences, Università degli Studi di Torino, via Valperga Caluso 35, 10125 Torino, Italy
Interests: rock mechanics; slope stability; numerical modelling
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Roberto Valentino

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Guest Editor
Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, Str. dell\'Università, 12, 43121 Parma, PR, Italy
Interests: slope stability; unsaturated soils; soil-atmosphere interaction; field monitoring; rainfall-induced landslides; physical modeling; numerical modeling; early warning systems; regional-scale landslide hazard; hydrological modeling
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Evelina Volpe

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Research Institute for Geo-Hydrological Protection, National Research Council, 06128 Perugia, Italy
Interests: slope stability; shallow landslides; reliability analysis

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Although it is a widely studied topic, the stability of rock slopes remains a key aspect of ensuring public safety in mountain landscapes, especially where steep rock slopes interact with structures and infrastructure, such as roads, railways, dams, and landfills. Significant roles are played by different parameters, such as unfavourable slope geometry, critical orientation of the discontinuities in the fractured rock mass, or the presence of weathered materials, in the mechanisms driving rock slope instability. Other factors such as intense rainfall, freezing and thawing cycles, or seismic excitations can represent a trigger for slope instability.

The potential failure mechanisms, the rock slope stability conditions, and the evolution of rock landslides have been studied extensively. In addition to the conventional limit equilibrium or kinematic approaches, numerical methods such as the discrete element method (DEM) and finite/difference element method (FEM) are employed to analyze different unstable mechanisms involving rocks. Susceptibility to different triggering factors can be studied by means of 2D and 3D numerical analyses carried out to simulate the propagation and runout phases. In addition to the deterministic approach, probabilistic analyses can be performed to consider the uncertainties of different input parameters. Furthermore, in recent years the development of innovative data acquisition systems has made data for performing and validating extensive numerical analyses available. In particular, remote sensing techniques and terrestrial photogrammetry provide information that is detailed enough to build realistic digital surfaces of the unstable areas. Additionally, recent advances in monitoring techniques provide tools for validating numerical models and set up thresholds for early warning systems.

The current Special Issue aims to bring together multidisciplinary research in order to develop our knowledge of the behaviour of discontinuous rock masses, the numerical modelling of rock slope stability conditions, and the assessment of related hazard, including the evaluation of the effect of triggering factors such as rainfall and earthquakes. Finally, studies that describe case histories, advances in monitoring systems, and risk mitigation countermeasures are also encouraged.

Dr. Elisabetta Cattoni
Dr. Evelina Volpe
Dr. Roberto Valentino
Dr. Gessica Umili
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Geosciences is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • rock slope stability
  • numerical analyses
  • monitoring
  • case histories
  • triggering factors
  • susceptibility assessment
  • support structures design
  • defense works

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

18 pages, 10556 KiB  
Article
The Bologna Interpretation of Rock Bridges
by Davide Elmo
Geosciences 2023, 13(2), 33; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences13020033 - 28 Jan 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1873
Abstract
One can only know where a rock bridge is once one measures it. In addition, to measure it, you need the rock mass to fail. This critical problem is ignored by many, and engineers continue to refer to rock bridges as geometrical distances [...] Read more.
One can only know where a rock bridge is once one measures it. In addition, to measure it, you need the rock mass to fail. This critical problem is ignored by many, and engineers continue to refer to rock bridges as geometrical distances between non-persistent fractures. This paper argues that this rather simplistic approach can lead to non-realistic failure mechanisms. We also raise the critical question of whether the inappropriate functioning of strength equations centred on the measurement of rock bridge percentages could result in misinterpreting the risk of failure. We propose a new interpterion, aptly called the Bologna Interpretation, as an analogy to the Copenhagen Interpretation of quantum mechanics, to highlight the indeterministic nature of rock bridges and to honour the oldest university in Europe (Bologna University). The Bologna Interpretation does not negate the existence of rock bridges. What rock bridges look like, how many there are, and where they are, we do not know; we can assume their existence and account for their contribution to rock mass strength using a potential analogue. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rock Slope Stability Analysis)
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30 pages, 11037 KiB  
Article
Stress–Strain Investigation of the Rock Mass Based on Overcoring with CSIRO HI Cell Test and Numerical Modeling: A Case Study from an Italian Underground Marble Quarry
by Riccardo Salvini, Andrea Ermini, Vivien De Lucia, Luisa Beltramone, Daniele Silvestri, Andrea Rindinella, Stefano Guido, Daria Marchetti and Domenico Gullì
Geosciences 2022, 12(12), 441; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences12120441 - 30 Nov 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3708
Abstract
The present research illustrates the application of a methodological approach to studying the stress–strain distribution in a marble quarry of the Apuan Alps mining area (Italy). This study has been carried out in the framework of a project involving the University of Siena [...] Read more.
The present research illustrates the application of a methodological approach to studying the stress–strain distribution in a marble quarry of the Apuan Alps mining area (Italy). This study has been carried out in the framework of a project involving the University of Siena and the UOC Ingegneria Mineraria—USL Toscana Nord-Ovest, Tuscany Region. This stress–strain analysis aims foremost to monitor the slope stability conditions to guarantee a safe workplace for the personnel involved in mining activities, and to enable more sustainable long-term planning for excavation and production. The involved survey activities are as follows: (i) terrestrial laser scanning; (ii) engineering–geological data mapping; and (iii) in situ marble stress measuring through four CSIRO-type cell tests executed in different locations and at various depths within the underground excavation walls. The gathered data converged into numerical models of the quarry, both in 2D (DEM) and 3D (FEM), calibrated by in situ stress results through a rigorous back analysis assessment using least squares procedures. The created models represent a valuable tool for the identification and securing of risk areas and for future excavation planning in respect of the site efficiency and safety. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rock Slope Stability Analysis)
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26 pages, 20232 KiB  
Article
A Tool for Performing Automatic Kinematic Analysis on Rock Outcrops
by Battista Taboni, Iuri Dino Tagliaferri and Gessica Umili
Geosciences 2022, 12(12), 435; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences12120435 - 24 Nov 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2122
Abstract
The assessment of rock outcrops’ predisposition to the main possible kinematisms represents the preliminary step of stability analysis: Markland’s tests for sliding and toppling constitute a milestone due to the ease of use and interpretation of results. Orientation and friction angles of the [...] Read more.
The assessment of rock outcrops’ predisposition to the main possible kinematisms represents the preliminary step of stability analysis: Markland’s tests for sliding and toppling constitute a milestone due to the ease of use and interpretation of results. Orientation and friction angles of the main discontinuity sets and orientation of rock faces are required as input to perform the test on a stereonet graphically. However, for natural outcrops, the orientation of rock faces could vary significantly, and the test should be performed assuming all the representative ones. To speed up this process, the authors set up an automatic procedure based on the GIS environment working principles and developed it in Matlab language. Main discontinuity sets orientation and relative friction angles, along with slope and aspect data representing the rockface orientation of the considered outcrop, are the input data. The slope and aspect data are in GeoTIFF format, the most common format for georeferenced raster files employed in a GIS environment. The Matlab code performs Markland’s tests for planar and wedge sliding and flexural toppling, considering all the possible sets or intersections of sets, and provides the output with the same extent and georeferencing of the input data. The outputs are a series of GeoTIFF raster files describing the result for each kinematism separately and globally, which can be imported directly into GIS. The global results can also be used to map source areas for 3D rockfall numerical simulations. The code was validated through a case study by comparing its results with those obtained by performing the conventional tests singularly on a number of significant rock faces. The results obtained in the case study show that the algorithm produces reliable results consistent with those provided by traditional methods. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rock Slope Stability Analysis)
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