Analysis of pyramidal block slide induced by seismic excitation

Abstract Rock blocks in a slope may slide due to seismic shaking. Whether the rock blocks will slide and what type of movement it will be depends on their geometric configuration, the degree and direction of shaking and interface friction. A situation where a block is enclosed by more than one joint or free surface perplexes the determination of the types of movement and the process of sliding during earthquake shaking. Based on the existing intersection set method, which determines the type of movement under static conditions for pyramidal blocks, this study extends the method to analyze the dynamic movement of a block. A scheme determining the possible types of movement and calculating the amount of movements due to seismic shaking of pyramidal blocks is proposed. Demonstration cases, showing sliding history of a block and checking whether installed rock bolts would fail after a particular earthquake, are presented. The results of case studies reveal that the conventional pseudo‐static analysis may yield a conservative engineering design. The limitation of the proposed method is also noted by predicting and comparing the rotating of a block using the proposed method and Discontinuous Deformation Analysis.

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