Table Of ContentROCK
SLOPE
STABILITY
2ND EDITION
CHARLES A. KLICHE
ROCK
SLOPE
STABILITY
2ND EDITION
CHARLES A. KLICHE
Published by the
Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration
Copyright © 2018 Society of Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration. All rights reserved.
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ISBN 978-0-87335-369-4
eBook 978-0-87335-370-0
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Kliche, Charles A., 1951- author.
Title: Rock slope stability / Charles A. Kliche.
Description: Second edition. | Englewood, Colorado : Society for Mining,
Metallurgy & Exploration, [2019] | Includes bibliographical references and
index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2018017397 (print) | LCCN 2018017699 (ebook) | ISBN
9780873353700 | ISBN 9780873353694
Subjects: LCSH: Rock slopes. | Rock mechanics. | Ground control (Mining) |
Stability.
Classification: LCC TA706 (ebook) | LCC TA706 .K62 2019 (print) | DDC
624.1/5132--dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2018017397
Copyright © 2018 Society of Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration. All rights reserved.
Contents
PREFACE v
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS vii
ABOUT THE AUTHOR ix
CHAPTER 1 BASIC CONCEPTS 1
Slope Stability as an Engineering Issue 1
Terminology 2
Slope Failure Causes and Processes 7
General Modes of Slope Failure in Rock Masses 11
Mechanical Approaches to Stability Analysis 15
CHAPTER 2 ROCK MASS PROPERTIES 35
Engineering Properties of Discontinuities 35
Shear Strength of Discontinuities 42
Geologic Data Collection 55
Hemispherical Projection Techniques 57
Engineering Rock Mass Classification Schemes 87
CHAPTER 3 GROUNDWATER 115
Groundwater Flow Within Rock Masses 115
Influence of Groundwater on Slope Stability 122
Evaluation of Groundwater Conditions in Slopes 125
Slope Dewatering 141
Cone of Depression 141
CHAPTER 4 THE ROCKFALL HAZARD RATING SYSTEM 149
Significance of the Rockfall Problem 149
Origins of the Rockfall Hazard Rating System 150
Overview 153
Slope Survey and Preliminary Rating 154
Detailed Rating Phase 156
iii
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iv ROCK SLOPE STABILITY
CHAPTER 5 KINEMATIC SLOPE STABILITY ANALYSIS 165
Markland Test for Plane Shear Failure 165
Markland Test for Toppling Failure 169
Computer-Aided Kinematic Analysis 169
Friction Cone Concept 173
CHAPTER 6 KINETIC SLOPE STABILITY: ANALYSIS OF SHEAR FAILURE—PLANE
SHEAR AND ROTATIONAL SHEAR 183
Plane Shear 183
Rotational Shear 196
CHAPTER 7 KINETIC SLOPE STABILITY: ANALYSIS OF TOPPLING FAILURE 221
General Model for Toppling Failure 222
Limiting Equilibrium Analysis of Toppling on a Stepped Base 223
Example: Toppling Failure 231
CHAPTER 8 KINETIC SLOPE STABILITY: ANALYSIS OF WEDGE FAILURE 237
Wedge Geometry 241
Factor-of-Safety Determination 246
Other Considerations 252
CHAPTER 9 ROCK SLOPE STABILIZATION TECHNIQUES 259
Grading 260
Controlled Blasting (Overbreak Control) 271
Mechanical Stabilization 283
Structural Stabilization 286
Vegetative Stabilization 294
Water Control 294
CHAPTER 10 GEOTECHNICAL INSTRUMENTATION AND MONITORING 301
Instrumentation to Measure Rock Deformation 303
Monitoring 325
GLOSSARY 345
INDEX 357
Copyright © 2018 Society of Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration. All rights reserved.
Preface
The process of assessing a rock slope for stability involves the application of many branches
of engineering and natural science. The determination of rock or soil strength parameters
requires a working knowledge of rock mechanics and/or soil mechanics. Knowledge of
basic hydrological concepts is essential for interpreting the effects of water on a rock slope.
An understanding of geology—especially structural geology, mineralogy, petrology, and
the geological processes—is extremely important for the rock slope engineer. These areas
of knowledge—geology, rock and soil mechanics, and hydrology—along with other basic
areas such as statics, engineering mechanics, statistics, and structural engineering are all
important elements of rock slope engineering and design.
The computer has become an invaluable tool for the engineer and scientist. With its aide,
the geotechnical engineer can make numerous computations or consider many design
alternatives in a short period of time. Additionally, modern rock slope instrumentation
and monitoring systems use computerized data acquisition and state-of-the-art data trans-
mission. The rock slope engineer must be familiar with computer analysis techniques and
some of the current three-dimensional visualization techniques.
The danger, however, with computerized analysis techniques is that engineers who do not
have the proper background will not know for certain whether the results are realistic—in
other words, “garbage in, garbage out.” Therefore, it is imperative that rock slope stability
engineers have a solid understanding of the many methodologies in common use for the
analysis of the stability of rock slopes. On the basis of experience and a solid engineer-
ing background, they should be able to provide and verify the data used in the analysis,
verify the results of the investigation, and then make proper recommendations for reme-
dial actions.
The emphasis of this book is on rock slope stability, with sections on geological data col-
lection, geotechnical data collection and analysis, surface water and groundwater effects,
kinematic and kinetic stability analysis, rock slope stabilization techniques, and rock slope
instrumentation and monitoring. Numerous examples of solutions to typical rock slope
engineering problems are given. Additionally, many figures and photographs are included
to aid the reader in understanding the various concepts.
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Copyright © 2018 Society of Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration. All rights reserved.
vi ROCK SLOPE STABILITY
During development of the manuscript, the scope was intentionally broadened to include
not only mining engineering and geological engineering applications but also civil engi-
neering. Therefore, the text is intended to be a reference and guide for mining and con-
struction engineers responsible for rock slope stability.
Work began on this second edition in 2014. It was envisioned for this edition that, in addi-
tion to correcting any errata discovered in the first edition, sections within the book would
be expanded to include the following:
■
Within Chapter 2, a discussion of three-dimensional imaging techniques for map-
ping discontinuities and a section on engineering rock mass classification schemes.
■
Significantly more on the rotational shear mode of failure. Consequently, Chapter 6
on Kinetic Slope Stability Analysis of Shear Failure was expanded to include exam-
ples, and some of the more common techniques for analysis, of rotational shear.
■
An expanded section on catch bench design in Chapter 9, Rock Slope Stabilization
Techniques.
As the work developed, much was added to, or replaced in, the original chapters to mod-
ernize the book as much as possible. The overall goal, however, remained: to provide fun-
damental knowledge in the field of rock slope stability to those interested in or responsible
for rock slope engineering in both construction and mining applications.
Copyright © 2018 Society of Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration. All rights reserved.
Acknowledgments
In the acknowledgments to the first edition, I thanked and acknowledged certain individ-
uals and companies, including the late Richard L. Klimpel, Tad Szwedzicki, Don Berger,
Doug Hoy, Mark Keenihan, Russ Kliche, Dave Pierce, Hai-Tien Yu, Jim Bachmann,
Howard Grant, Frank Olivieri, Phil Murray, and my loving wife Donna Kliche, Homestake
Mining Company, Wharf Resources, Barrick Goldstrike, Newmont Mining, BHP,
Modular Mining Systems, and Slope Indicator Company. I thank you again.
To the preceding list I add Scott Durgin, Nichole King, Ekrem Tamkan, Bob McClure,
Tamara Wiseman, Brian Wenig, Alvis Lisenbee, F.W. Breithaupt and Sohn, Peabody
Energy Company, Cloud Peak Energy, Freeport-McMoRan New Mexico Operations,
and RAM Inc.
The first edition was published in 1999. In 1997 our daughter, Alexandra Veturia, to whom
the first edition was dedicated, was born. A very substantial portion of the work on the first
edition was done by me during the daytime periods and late hours while Alex slept. Alex is
now a junior in engineering at my alma mater. How time flies!
The work for the second edition was completed over a period of about the last five years. I
started, then stopped, started again, then stopped. It was very difficult staying motivated.
However, with the encouragement of family and very special friends, I managed to plod
along until this point. I also thank Jane Olivier, SME manager of book publishing, and
Diane Serafin, my editor, for bearing with me.
A very special thank you is extended to the following people: Arden Davis, who reviewed
and suggested changes to Chapter 3, Groundwater; my old friend, S.A. Gauger, who always
provided that extra little bit of encouragement; and the wonderful people I worked with
for so very long in the mining engineering program at the South Dakota School of Mines
and Technology: Duff Erickson; S.N. Shashikanth; the late Ziggy Hladysz, who is sorely
missed by all; and Cindy Hise, the mining program’s secretary extraordinaire.
vii
Copyright © 2018 Society of Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2018 Society of Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration. All rights reserved.
About the Author
Charles A. Kliche is professor emeritus of Mining Engineering and
Management at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
(SDSMT). He has more than 45 years of varied mining experience
in industrial minerals (bentonite mining), taconite mining, gold
mining, consulting, and mining education. Kliche holds B.S. and
M.S. degrees in mining engineering from the SDSMT and a Ph.D.
degree in mining engineering from the University of Arizona.
Kliche has worked extensively as an independent mining consul-
tant in the fields of rock slope stability, explosives engineering, and
the environmental effects of mining. He has written numerous
papers on those subjects as well as this second edition of Rock Slope
Stability and Chapter 8.3, Slope Stability, in the third edition of
the SME Mining Engineering Handbook, both published by SME.
Kliche is a registered professional engineer in the states of Minnesota
and South Dakota. He is also a member of the National Society of
Professional Engineers and the South Dakota Engineering Society.
Kliche is active in SME and the International Society of Explosives
Engineers (ISEE), both on the local and national level. He was a
founder and first chairman of the Black Hills chapter of the ISEE
and also served on its board of directors for many years. Kliche
served as chairman of the Black Hills section of SME in 1986, 1999,
and, for the third time, from 2006 to 2016. He has served in various
capacities for the SME and ISEE national meetings.
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