Model rockeries in SlopeW

[AndyJG]

Does anyone have experience modeling stacked rock walls, (rockeries, or gravity walls) in SlopeW? I wonder whether to break up each layer as a separate unit. Any suggestions for phi and C for rockeries?
Thanks
AndyJG

 

[GeoPaveTraffic]

I would make all of the rockery a single material zone. As for properties, I would assign it a high phi and c. As far as slope/w is concerned the rockery should act as a gravity retaining wall.

You will have to analyze the rockery separately to determine that it is indead behaving as a gravity retaining wall.

 

[DRC1]

Unless it is mortared, I would use c=0. For slope stability of dumped or randomly placed rock, I have used phi= 45 degrees. I have not used SlopeW.

 

[Bluefoot]

Specific software is designed for this application such as GEO5 Gravity Wall (criteria includes EC7). You may want a cross check prior to finalize your design.

 

[AndyJG]

Thanks for the responses, they were helpful. I used a number of iterations on the design. Slope/W has a nice feature in the sensitivity analysis where you can see how varying the material properties will vary the FOS without having to run it too many times. Interestingly we got the highest FOS with lightweight (but expensive) material such as geofoam. Not sure the county gov't here in Durango has that much to spend.

 

[DarthSoilsGuy]

make sure to check out the other threads on this topic if you haven't already... i remember there was a good link to a federal highway study on rockeries

Advanced search "rockeries"

also this thread has the link (if this works)

thread255-186861