Stability Analysis

Sirovision performs a stability analysis based on either two intersecting discontinuities that form a wedge, or with more sophisticated detection of polyhedral blocks formed from multiple intersecting discontinuities. A wedge or polyhedral block undergoes a limiting equilibrium analysis to determine if it has the potential to slide, given the user-defined friction, cohesion and pore pressure data.

Blocks and wedges are created under the Kinematic Sets section of the Project Tree.

• Tetrahedral Wedge Analysis – Allows you to analyse the wedges formed between two orientation discontinuity sets. It includes the determination of a release surface to construct wedges for which mass and volume are determined from the characteristics of the rock surface (for example, bedding). You can edit the analysis parameters that include the limiting equilibrium stability calculations. See Run a Wedge Stability Analysis.
• Polyhedral Block Analysis – Allows you to analyse rigid blocks daylighting on the rock mass surface. Unlike the Automated Wedge Analysis method, blocks of any shape (called polyhedra) can be accommodated (that is, not just simple wedges) and their mass and volume are determined from the characteristics of the rock surface domain. You can edit the analysis parameters that include the limiting equilibrium stability calculations. See Run a Polyhedral Stability Analysis.

Note: Sirovision uses simple geometric analysis to identify the potential formation of rock stability hazards. You must assess the validity of this analysis for the rock slope being investigated.