Engineering Manual No. 28: Rock Wedge Stability Analysis Using GEO5


This twenty-eighth manual in the GEO5 engineering series focuses on the stability analysis of rock wedges within a slope, using the GEO5 Rock Stability program. The manual provides a detailed guide to assessing the stability of rock wedges affected by tectonic faults and joints, and offers solutions for stabilizing unstable wedges, particularly in the context of excavation works. Available for download, this manual is an essential resource for geotechnical engineers working on rock slope stability in challenging geological conditions.

Learning Objective:

The goal of this manual is to teach users how to assess and stabilize rock wedge formations using the GEO5 Rock Stability program. Users will learn to model rock slopes, identify critical shear planes, and design appropriate stabilization measures such as rock bolts to ensure that the slope meets required safety factors.

Assignment Description:

In this assignment, users are tasked with analyzing the stability of a rock wedge within a tectonically affected rock slope, located at the excavation site of the Votice two-track railway tunnel. The analysis involves modeling the slope geometry, identifying and evaluating the orientation of critical shear planes, and designing stabilization measures using rock bolts to increase the safety factor to the required level. The manual provides step-by-step instructions for setting up the problem, performing the stability analysis, and implementing the stabilization design.

Outcome:

Upon completing this assignment, users will be able to accurately assess the stability of rock wedges in slopes using GEO5 software and design effective stabilization measures. They will gain practical experience in handling complex geological conditions, interpreting stability analysis results, and selecting appropriate rock bolt configurations to ensure the long-term stability of slopes.

Conclusions:

The manual concludes that the initial stability analysis of the rock wedge revealed a safety factor of 1.32, which does not meet the required safety standard of 1.5. To address this, rock bolts were designed and applied, successfully increasing the safety factor to the required value. The manual emphasizes the importance of using detailed geological investigations and precise modeling to achieve reliable and cost-effective stabilization solutions.


📥 Download LINK