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Lecture 5: Hemispherical Projection & Slopes: D A Cameron Rock & Soil Mechanics

The document discusses stereographic projections and their use in evaluating slope stability. It describes how to plot structural features like strikes and dip directions, determine lines of intersection between planes, and identify four potential types of slope instability: planar, wedge, toppling, and circular failures. The friction circle is introduced to assess if dipping discontinuities will daylight on a slope surface based on the joint friction angle. An example mechanics problem demonstrates analyzing forces on a potential planar failure.

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Apriyanto Tsai
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67 views41 pages

Lecture 5: Hemispherical Projection & Slopes: D A Cameron Rock & Soil Mechanics

The document discusses stereographic projections and their use in evaluating slope stability. It describes how to plot structural features like strikes and dip directions, determine lines of intersection between planes, and identify four potential types of slope instability: planar, wedge, toppling, and circular failures. The friction circle is introduced to assess if dipping discontinuities will daylight on a slope surface based on the joint friction angle. An example mechanics problem demonstrates analyzing forces on a potential planar failure.

Uploaded by

Apriyanto Tsai
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Lecture 5: Hemispherical

Projection & Slopes


D A Cameron
Rock & Soil Mechanics

Why are these plots needed?


to provide a simple visual reference of
the various joint sets seen in rock mass
exposures
to evaluate the potential for instability of
engineering works in these masses
e.g. dip angle and dip direction of slopes can
be compared with prevailing joint sets

Meridional stereographic
projection net for
Structural Geology

EXAMPLE
dip direction, = 135
dip angle,
= 50
denoted as
135/050
Plot also 000/090 and 090/000

Dip Direction
= 135

Tracing
paper with
central
drawing pin

Step 1
Rotate the paper until the line
marking the dip direction
corresponds with the equatorial
position (90)

Steps 2 and 3
Measure 50 ( = the dip direction, ) from the
outer circle RHS and trace the great circle for
the plane as shown
Measure (90 - ) or 40 from the outer circle,
but this time from the LHS to locate the
POLE of the great circle or plane

40

90

50

POLE

GREAT
CIRCLE

The Normal or Pole


The normal to a plane is an imaginary line
drawn perpendicular to the plane
The downward direction of this line is plotted
on the projection
The point representing the normal on the
stereonet is referred to as the pole of the plane

Normal to the plane


The trend n and plunge n
of the normal to a plane are
given by:
n = w 180
n = 90 - w

Rotate back
to the North
position

Add in
000/090

Intersections
Two planes A and B have orientations
A:060/030 and B:340/075
These planes intersect on the stereonet at
the point A:B
- this point represents the line of intersection of
the discontinuities represented by the planes

Plane A,
060/030

Plane B,
340/075

Plunge of intersection line


Rotate tracing until intersection point lies
on the E-W line
Read off the number of degrees from the
perimeter to the intersection point
= the plunge of the intersection line

intersection line

plane 1

The intersecting planes

plane 2

line of intersection

Plunge of intersection line


Rotate tracing until intersection point lies on
the E-W line
Read off the number of degrees from the
perimeter to the intersection point
= the plunge of the intersection line

Pla
06 ne A
0/0 ,
30

Pla
34 ne B
0/0 ,
75

35

Dip direction of intersection line


Rotate tracing back to the datum
Mark off dip direction as indicated
The intersection point can be designated as
060/035

Plane A,
060/030

Plane B,
340/075

60

Plane A,
060/030

Plane B,
340/075

SLOPE STABILITY
Stereonet information can be used to indicate the
likely instability
Plots of the poles of discontinuity planes
Contours to indicate high concentrations in areas of
the net
prevailing discontinuities

Position of discontinuities with respect to the Great


Circle for the Slope?

Typical Slope Instability


(a) no particular concentration of poles
- circular failure (e.g. waste rock/ fractured slate)
- similar to soil (use Bishops method)

Slope Instability
(b) single concentration of poles above cut
slope - plane failure
slope

Discontinuity strike parallel to


that for the slope

Conditions for planar failure


The plunge of the slope > dip of the
discontinuity
Discontinuity daylights on the slope face
Discontinuity has a dip angle > for the joint
mechanically possible

Dip direction of the discontinuity and slope


lie within 20

The last condition


Strike of
discontinuity

20
< 20

Slope Instability
(c) double concentration of poles = intersecting
joints - wedge failure most common
slope

discontinuities

Conditions for wedge failure


The plunge of the slope > dip of the
Intersection line
Intersection line daylights on the slope face
Intersection line has a dip angle > for the
joints
mechanically possible

Dip of intersection > friction angle


intersection line

intersection line,
I12

plane 2
plane 1

friction circle

Slope Great
Circle

UNSAFE slope!

The Friction Circle


Outer radius = 1, represents = 0
Radius of friction circle = (90 - )/90

= 30
(0.67)
= 45
= 22.5

0.5

0.75

1.0

The Friction Circle


The meridional plot is overlaid by the
friction circle (same diameter)
The slope is safe if the intersection point, I12
is outside the friction circle () for the joint
- mechanically impossible to fail
- assumes c = 0 kPa for the joint

Wedges intersecting slopes

intersection lines of
planar discontinuities
with the slope

Great circle of
slope surface

Slope Instability
(d) single concentration of poles below slope
- toppling failure in hard rock
slope

discontinuity

Mechanics of a Planar Failure


Qn 8.1, Priest (1993)
6m

60
10 m

2m

60
30

= 27 kN/m3. Inclined tension crack.


Silt filled joint: cj = 10 kPa, j = 32

and U2 = 101.83 kN

6m

W
10 m

U1 = 22.66 kN

Area of wedge = 44.43 m2


W = 1200 kN
pwp at point D = 2x9.8 = 19.6 kPa

2.3
1

8m
3
.
0
1

U1
U2

FN = Wcos30 - U1sin60 - U2
= 917.8 kN
Sliding resistance = (10.38x10 kPa) + 917.8(tan32)
= 677.3 kN
Sliding force =Wsin30 +U1cos60
= 611.3 kN

ANSWER: FoS = 1.11

2.5 m

U1

m
5
.
0
1

U2

SUMMARY Key Points


Great Circles & poles
strikes, dip directions & dip angles

Lines of intersection
Conditions for slope instability
4 potential types

Friction circle application


cohesionless joints

Analysis of planar failures

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