Slope-Slide Simulation with Discontinuous Deformation and Displacement Analysis

The discontinuous deformation and displacement (DDD) analysis method, a combination of the realistic failure-process analysis (RFPA) and discontinuous deformation analysis (DDA) methods, offers an appropriate approach for whole rock failure-process analysis involving both the small deformation and large displacement stages. A high rock-slope slide at the Alpetto Mine in Cesana Brianza, Italy, was simulated with the DDD method, and the results are consistent with site observations and previous numerical results, which validates the DDD code for this kind of geotechnical problem. Moreover, this study verified the two main advantages of the DDD method, i.e., the critical failure surface can be obtained directly without any assumptions with the RFPA module before using the DDA module, and computing efficiency is improved significantly because the large displacement elements are the only elements that need to be calculated by the DDA module. The DDD method has proved to be an effective and efficient approach for engineers in the field of rock slopes, and it shows huge potential in geotechnical engineering. (C) 2016 American Society of Civil Engineers.