Numerical Modeling of Stability of Fractured Reservoir Bank Slopes Subjected to Water–Rock Interactions

The effect of water on the shear behavior of joints in rocks is critical for determining the global stability of fractured rock slopes subjected to changes in water levels, because the joint peak shear strength can be significantly lowered owing to wetting. The roles of the mechanical and the combin...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Rock mechanics and rock engineering 2018-08, Vol.51 (8), p.2517-2531
Main Authors: Zhao, Zhihong, Guo, Tiecheng, Ning, Zeyu, Dou, Zihao, Dai, Feng, Yang, Qiang
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Civil Engineering
Contraction
Deformation
Deformation mechanisms
Discrete element method
Earth and Environmental Science
Earth Sciences
Fractured reservoirs
Fractures
Geophysics/Geodesy
Interactions
Joints (timber)
Mathematical models
Modelling
Original Paper
Reservoirs
Rocks
Shear stiffness
Shear strength
Slope
Slope stability
Slopes
Stiffness
Water levels
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Summary:The effect of water on the shear behavior of joints in rocks is critical for determining the global stability of fractured rock slopes subjected to changes in water levels, because the joint peak shear strength can be significantly lowered owing to wetting. The roles of the mechanical and the combined physical and chemical water–rock interactions in the deformation of reservoir bank slopes are studied using discrete element method. The numerical results showed that the joints that are subparallel to the slope surface mainly determine the displacements of rock blocks and that water–rock interaction-induced deterioration of joint shear stiffness and strength plays a critical role in the stability of reservoir bank slopes. The weakening of rock fractures induced by interactions between water and fracture walls can explain the monitored valley contraction during the impoundment of high dams.
ISSN:0723-2632
1434-453X
DOI:10.1007/s00603-017-1360-6