Study on deformation and failure law of soft-hard rock interbedding toppling slope base on similar test

The phenomenon of toppling deformation and failure is ubiquitous in layered anti-dip rock slope. In this paper, the development process of toppling deformation and failure is simulated by similar tests. In the test, the rock test model of soft-hard interbedding is established by the law of similarity. Based on the test results, the process of soft-hard interbedded rock toppling deformation is simulated, and six stages (five stages in actual) of the toppling process are summarized. The characteristics in each stage are described, respectively. The relationship between displacement-time and stress-strain in the process of deformation is systematically analyzed and studied. Besides, numerical simulation tests are carried out by using the three-dimensional discrete element software 3DEC to consider the effects of different lithologic ratios on the toppling deformation and failure modes. The influence of joints on the toppling deformation is also considered, which corresponds to the characteristics of the toppling deformation before and after the occurrence of cracks.