Engineering Manual No. 31: Planar Shear Failure Analysis of a Rock Slope Using GEO5


This thirty-first manual in the GEO5 engineering series focuses on the evaluation of rock slope stability with planar shear failure, specifically for an excavation located along road II/102 in the Vltava river valley. The manual provides a detailed guide to analyzing the stability of a rock slope affected by historical landslides, underground water, and ongoing stabilization challenges. Available for download, this manual is an essential resource for geotechnical engineers tasked with assessing and improving the stability of rock slopes in complex geological conditions.

Learning Objective:

The goal of this manual is to teach users how to assess the stability of a rock slope with planar shear failure using GEO5 software. Users will learn how to input the geometry of the slope, define the properties of the rock mass, set up shear planes, and evaluate the safety factor to determine whether additional stabilization measures are necessary.

Assignment Description:

In this assignment, users are tasked with evaluating the stability of a rock slope that has been historically affected by landslides and rock falls. The analysis requires inputting the slope geometry, rock mass properties, and the orientation of the shear failure plane, followed by calculating the factor of safety. The manual provides detailed instructions for configuring the analysis, considering the influence of underground water, and interpreting the results to determine if the slope meets the required safety standards.

Outcome:

Upon completing this assignment, users will be able to accurately assess the stability of rock slopes with planar shear failure using GEO5 software. They will gain practical experience in setting up slope stability models, interpreting results, and designing appropriate stabilization measures based on the calculated safety factor.

Conclusions:

The manual concludes that the evaluated rock slope has a factor of safety of 1.24, which is below the required minimum of 1.5 for long-term stability. The results indicate that the current state of the slope is not acceptable, and additional stabilization measures, such as the installation of rock bolts or barriers, are necessary to protect the road from potential rock falls.


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