Stability analysis of consequent rock slopes using elastic-plastic plate theory

Flexural failures often occur in construction of consequent rock slopes. The elastic compression bar theory and the elastic plate theory are often used in the stability analysis of consequent rock slopes for flexural failure mode. Rock plates are assumed as one-dimensional compression bar in the elastic compression bar theory and two-dimensional plate in the elastic plate theory. The influences of rock plasticity on the slope stability are not considered in the above two methods. For the flexural failure mode, if stresses in rock strata are large enough to exceed their elastic limits, the rock material will sustain both elastic and plastic strains. In such a case, the application of the elastic theory may lead to unreasonable results. On the basis of the stability theory for elastic-plastic plates, a study on the mechanism of flexural failure of consequent rock slopes is carried out by using the energy method. The influences of slope length and plasticity of rock mass are considered particularly in deducing the computational formula for the stability analysis of consequent rock slopes. The feasibility of the proposed method is verified by some practical engineering cases.