Stability analysis of slide-toe-toppling failure

Abstract

Toppling failure is a common mode of instability in layered and blocky rock slopes where rock blocks rotate about their toes and overturn. One of the most important types of toppling failure is slide-toe-toppling. In this failure, rock blocks at the toe of the slope are overturned by the pressure of sliding mass from the upper part of the slope. In the present study, this type of failure is examined through physical and theoretical modeling. The literature on toppling failures is reviewed briefly first and, then, the mechanism of slide-toe-toppling failure is described. To clarify the mechanism of the failure, a series of physical model tests is conducted under static condition by means of a new tilting table apparatus. Then, a theoretical approach is proposed based on limit equilibrium analysis and some new equations are developed for stability analysis of this type of failure. Finally, the results of physical modeling are compared with outcomes of proposed theoretical approach. This comparison shows a good agreement between the theoretical and experimental results.