Innovative Stability Analysis of Complex Secondary Toppling Failures in Rock Slopes Using the Block Theory

Abstract

We present the block theory-based secondary toppling stability analysis method (BTSTSA), an advanced and novel method specifically designed to assess secondary toppling failures in slopes. This innovative method comprehensively accounts for various failure mechanisms and computes the factor of safety (F.S) for rock slopes. Grounded in Block theory principles, particularly the key-block method, and supplemented by limit equilibrium techniques, BTSTSA offers a practical and reliable analytical framework. Our investigation focused on five discontinuous rock slopes in the South Pars region, southwest Iran, which are affected by composite toppling failure mechanisms. The stability analysis results were meticulously verified using the Aydan-Kawamoto method, a recognized benchmark in the field. Comparative analysis consistently demonstrated that the BTSTSA approach generates more conservative estimates of the F.S compared to the Aydan-Kawamoto method. This conservatism underscores the robustness and reliability of the BTSTSA framework and highlights its implications for practical engineering applications. The integration of this innovative analytical method with data from these investigations offers crucial insights for geotechnical engineers, equipping them to manage the complexities of secondary toppling failures in discontinuous rock slopes. These findings emphasize the importance of considering conservatism in engineering applications and provide a more accurate and reliable assessment of slope stability, particularly concerning secondary toppling failures, thereby benefiting geotechnical engineering practices.