Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Brittle failure of rockslides linked to the rock bridge length effect

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Landslides Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A rock bridge along the potential sliding surface of a rockslide has a relatively large bearing capacity and governs the stability of the rock slope. The physical and mechanical properties of specimens representing four rock bridge lengths were researched by direct shear experimentation. The micromechanism associated with the change in shear strength parameters was analyzed by PFC2D numerical simulations that corresponded to the experiments. The results revealed a rock bridge length effect, through which the peak shear strength increases with rock bridge shortening, accompanied by an increase in cohesion and a decrease in internal friction angle and main fracture surface roughness. Rock bridge shortening decreased the density of the microcracks at the shear stress peak point, changing the cohesive strength and frictional strength. The decrease in the internal friction angle could change the critical stress intensity factors to make shear cracks preferentially initiate over tensile cracks. Fracture roughness therefore decreased, inducing a lower residual shear strength. As a result, the difference in the peak and residual strengths increased with rock bridge shortening, which would promote brittle failure of the corresponding rock slope.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alitalesh M, Yazdani M, Fakhimi A, Naeimabadi M (2019) Effect of loading direction on interaction of two pre-existing open and closed flaws in a rock-like brittle material. Underground Space. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.undsp.2019.04.003

  • Alonso JA, Reyes E, Galvez JC (2019) Size effect in the fracture properties of sandwich panels of plasterboard and core of rock wool. Mater Constr. https://doi.org/10.3989/mc.2019.10617

  • Asadizadeh M, Moosavi M, Hossaini MF, Masoumi H (2018) Shear strength and cracking process of non-persistent jointed rocks: an extensive experimental investigation. Rock Mech Rock Eng 51(2):1–14

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bahaaddini M, Hagan PC, Mitra R, Khosravi MH (2016) Experimental and numerical study of asperity degradation in the direct shear test. Eng Geol 204:41–52

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barton N (1973) Review of a new shear-strength criterion for rock joints. Eng Geol 7:287–332

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barton N, Choubey V (1977) The shear strength of rock joints in theory and practice. Rock Mech 10:1–54

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bishop AW (1967) Progressive failure with special reference to the mechanism causing it. In: Proceedings of the Geotechnical Conference. Oslo, Norway, pp 142–150

    Google Scholar 

  • Bobet A (2000) The initiation of secondary cracks in compression. Eng Frac Mech 66(2):187–219

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bobet A, Einstein HH (1998) Fracture coalescence in rock-type materials under uniaxial and biaxial compression. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 35(7):863–888

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cai M, Kaiser PK, Tasaka Y, Maejimac T, Moriokac H, Minami M (2004) Generalized crack initiation and crack damage stress thresholds of brittle rock masses near underground excavations. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 41(5):833–847

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cao P, Liu TY, Pu CZ, Lin H (2015) Crack propagation and coalescence of brittle rock-like specimens with pre-existing cracks in compression. Eng Geol 187:113–121

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen GQ, Zhang Y, Huang RQ, Guo F, Zhang GF (2015) Failure Mechanism of rock bridge based on acoustic emission technique. Journal of Sensors. https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/964730

  • Chen HR, Qin SQ, Xue L, Yang BC, Zhang K (2018) A physical model predicting instability of rock slopes with locked segments along a potential slip surface. Eng Geol 242:34–43

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen GQ, Jiang WZ, Sun X, Zhao C, Qin CA (2019) Quantitative evaluation of rock brittleness based on crack initiation stress and complete stress–strain curves. Bull Eng Geol Environ 78:5919–5936. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-019-01486-2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Darlington WJ, Ranjith PG, Choi SK (2011) The effect of specimen size on strength and other properties in laboratory testing of rock and rock-like cementitious brittle materials. Rock Mech Rock Eng 44(5):513–529

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Duan K, Ji YL, Xu NW, Wan ZJ, Wu W (2019) Excavation-induced fault instability: possible causes and implications for seismicity. Tunnel Undergr Space Tech 92:1–10

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eberhardt E, Stead D, Coggan JS (2004) Numerical analysis of initiation and progressive failure in natural rock slopes-the 1991 Randa rock slide. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 41(1):69–87

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Einstein HH, Veneziano D, Baecher GB, Oreillly KJ (1983) The effect of discontinuity persistence on rock slope stability. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 20(5):227–236

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fell R, Glastonbury J, Hunter G (2007) Rapid landslides: the importance of understanding mechanisms and rupture surface mechanics. Q J Eng Geol Hydrogeol 40:9–27

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Frayssines M, Hantz D (2006) Failure mechanisms and triggering factors in calcareous cliffs of the subalpine ranges (French alps). Eng Geol 86(4):256–270

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gao QP, Cao P, Wang F, Wang Z (2019) Mechanical properties and failure criteria of multi-joint rock-like specimens under compression-shear. Rock Soil Mech 40(3):1013–1022 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Gehle C, Kutter HK (2003) Breakage and shear behavior of intermittent rock joints. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 40:687–700

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ghazvinian A, Sarfarazi V, Schubert W, Blumel MA (2012) A study of the fracture mechanism of planar non-persistent open joints using PFC2D. Rock Mech Rock Eng 45:677–693

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grasselli G, Egger P (2003) Constitutive law for the shear strength of rock joints based on three-dimensional surface parameters. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 40:25–40

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Haeri H, Shahriar K, Marji MF, Moarefvand P (2014) On the strength and crack propagation process of the pre-cracked rock-like specimens under uniaxial compression. Strength Mater 46(1):140–152

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hajiabdolmajid V, Kaiser PK, Martin CD (2002) Modelling brittle failure of rock. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 39(6):731–741

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huang RQ (2009) Some catastrophic landslides since the twentieth century in the southwest of China. Landslides 6(1):69–81

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huang RQ (2012) Mechanisms of large-scale landslides in China. Bull Eng Geol Environ 71(1):161–170

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huang D, Cen DF, Ma GW, Huang RQ (2015) Step-path failure of rock slopes with intermittent joints. Landslides 12(5):911–926

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huang RQ, Chen GQ, Guo F, Zhang GF, Zhang Y (2016) Experimental study on the brittle failure of the locked section in a large-scale rock slide. Landslides 13(3):583–588

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Itasca Consulting Group Inc. (2016) PFC2D Particle Flow Code in 2 dimensions user’s guide

  • Lajtai EZ (1969) Strength of discontinuous rocks in direct shear. Geotech 19(2):218–233

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li SY, He TM, Yin XC (2010) Introduction of rock fracture mechanics. Publishing House of University of Science & Technology of China, Hefei (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Li Y, Huang D, Li X (2014) Strain rate dependency of coarse crystal marble under uniaxial compression: strength, deformation and strain energy. Rock Mech Rock Eng 47(4):1153–1164

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lin F, Wu LZ, Huang RQ, Zhang H (2018) Formation and characteristics of the Xiaoba landslide in Fuquan, Guizhou, China. Landslides 15(4):669–681

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Melin S (1986) When does a crack grow under mode II conditions? Int J Fract 30(2):103–114

    Google Scholar 

  • Meng Q, Zhang M, Han L, Pu H, Li H (2016) Effects of size and strain rate on the mechanical behaviors of rock specimens under uniaxial compression. Arab J Geosci 9(8):527

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sarfarazi V, Haeri H (2016) A review of experimental and numerical investigations about crack propagation. Comput Concr 18(2 s):235–266

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stimpson B (1978) Fracture of slopes containing discontinuous planar joints, Proceedings of the 19th US Symposium on Rock Mechanics. Stateline, Nevada, pp 296–302

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang C, Tannant DD, Lilly PA (2003) Numerical analysis of the stability of heavily jointed rock slopes using PFC2D. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 40(3):415–424

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wong RHC, Chau KT (1998) Crack coalescence in a rock-like material containing two cracks. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 35(2):147–164

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wong LNY, Einstein HH (2009) Crack coalescence in molded gypsum and carrara marble: Part 1 macroscopic observations and interpretation. Rock Mech Rock Eng 42(3):475–511

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wong RHC, Leung WL, Wang SW (2001) Shear strength study on rock-like models containing arrayed open joints. Dc Rocks E U.S Symposium on Rock Mechanics 84: 3-9.

  • Xu Q, Fan XM, Huang RQ, Yin YP, Hou SS, Dong XJ, Tang MG (2010) A catastrophic landslide-debris flow in Wulong, Chongqing, China in 2009: background, characterization, and causes. Landslides 7(1):75–87

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yang L, Jiang YJ, Li SC, Li B (2013) Experimental and numerical research on 3D crack growth in rocklike material subjected to uniaxial tension. J Geotech Geoenviron 139(10):1781–1788

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao C, Matsuda H, Morita C, Shen MR (2011) Study on failure characteristic of rock-like materials with an open-hole under uniaxial compression. Strain 47(5):405–413

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Funding

This research was supported by the National Key R&D Program of China (2017YFC1501301), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 41521002, 41972284 and 41572283), the Funding of Science and Technology Office of Sichuan Province (Grant No. 2017TD0018) and the research fund of the State Key Laboratory of Geohazard Prevention and Geoenvironment Protection (Grant No. SKLGP2018Z011).

Author information

Author notes

  1. Peng Tang, Run-Qiu Huang and Jing Zhu contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Geohazard Prevention and Geoenvironment Protection, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu, 610059, China

    Guo-Qing Chen

Authors
  1. Peng Tang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Guo-Qing Chen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Run-Qiu Huang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Jing Zhu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Guo-Qing Chen.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Tang, P., Chen, GQ., Huang, RQ. et al. Brittle failure of rockslides linked to the rock bridge length effect. Landslides 17, 793–803 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10346-019-01323-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10346-019-01323-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation