A General Solution for Estimating the Safety Factor of Bimslopes

Bimslopes are slopes underlain by block-in-matrix rocks/soils (bimrocks/bimsoils), which are heterogeneous geomaterials with complex behavior. Abundant uncertainties in the mechanical, spatial, and geological nature of bimslopes make it difficult to estimate stability conditions of bimslopes. In this paper, some factors affecting the stability of bimslopes are investigated using the finite-element method. The main contributory factors include Volumetric Block Proportion (VBP), the inclination of blocks, and the strength of matrix/block interfaces. By performance of sensitivity analysis on these factors, a statistically significant equation was obtained to estimate the safety factor of bimslopes using the multivariate regression method. The influence of block configurations and groundwater levels on the stability of bimslopes was then investigated to more confidently use the multivariate equation. Finally, to check the validity of procedures presented in this paper, a real failed bimslope in the Sungun mine (Iran) was investigated. The acceptable results from the Sungun analysis demonstrated the safety factor of bimslopes can be estimated using the practical solution presented in this paper.

Automated summary

This paper investigates the factors affecting the stability of Bimslopes using the finite-element method and proposes an equation to estimate the safety factor of Bimslopes through multivariate regression analysis. The influence of block configurations and groundwater levels on Bimslope stability is also examined, and the validity of the proposed procedures is verified using a real failed Bimslope case study.