SLOPE STABILITY ANALYSIS FOR OPEN PIT SIDES COMPOSED OF SEDIMENTARY ROCKS

Abstract

Relevance. Rock mass stability analysis faces a number of difficulties when modelling the mechanical conditions of rocks, these are a wide range of strength properties, the structure of the rock mass, and the lack of a sufficient amount of input data. The input parameters are of significant importance for mathematical modelling, which is expressed in the GIGO principle (Garbage In, Garbage Out). The purpose of the research is to determine the influence of the strength properties scatter of sedimentary rocks in the open pit side. The object of research is the upper part of the open pit side, composed of the complex of the Mesozoic and Cenozoic rocks. The research site is the Sokolovskoe ore deposit, developed by the mine of the same name. Research methods. The study was carried out using the of limit equilibrium method. The models of Fellenious, Spencer, Bishop were used. The sensibility of the pit slope model to the strength parameters (cohesion and angle of internal friction) of soils was studied. Sensibility analysis was carried out by exhaustive search method in a range of properties obtained using the failure tests. Conclusions. The relationship of the safety factor and variability of the strength properties are obtained. For the conditions of the Sokolovskoe deposit, rocks have been identified that pose the greatest danger to the stability of the open pit sides. The applied approach is a kind of scenario analysis, and along with inverse problems, is a suitable method for evaluation of the geological factors.

Keywords

• slope stability analysis
• open pit side
• limit equilibrium method
• geological factors
• soils
• rock mass
• safety factor of open pit slope