Investigating the Effect of Wall Curvature on Seismic Response of Slopes S Tahmasbi, A Azhari, S Mahdavi, H Share Isfahani Journal of Analytical and Numerical Methods in Mining Engineering 11 (28), 71-84

SummaryThe effect of slope wall curvature in three dimensions has been investigated using the finite difference approach (FLAC3D). An elliptical pit model with curvatures between 8 and 320 meters is modeled by geomechanical parameters of Choghart mine and has been analyzed under static load and a harmonic seismic load. The results obtained from the observation of co-elevation points on a single bench and elevation points show that static and dynamic displacement increases up to 2 times by increasing the radius of curvature and the dynamic acceleration increases up to 35 percent in larger curvature radiuses. The acceleration amplification factor (AF) has also been studied at different points and altitudes, the value of which varies between 0.3 and 1.2 depending on the radius of curvature. IntroductionEvaluating the static and seismic stability of rock and soil slopes in civil and mining applications has been a significant concern for geotechnicians. The limited seismic studies have focused only on the parameters of the earthquake source, while, the site effects including topography and material stiffness contrast, have received less attention. Among topographical effects, a few studies were donated to the slope curvature and were mainly on the slope crest curvature in two dimensions. This study mainly focused on the topographical effect of the slope curvature in three-dimension. Methodology and ApproachesIn this research, an elliptical pit is simulated, using a 3D finite-difference code (Flac3D). The wall curvature radius (R) varies from 8 to 320 meters. The dynamic analyses were performed after verifying dynamic consideration under a …