Evaluation of techniques for quarry slope stability assessment

A wide range of stability analysis techniques exists to facilitate the desi gn of quarry slopes. The currently available software includes relatively s imple, kinematic stereographic packages, conventional limit-equilibrium app lications, statistical and probabilistic packages and more sophisticated ma terial and block deformation models. Use of these techniques to investigate potential instability mechanisms associated with quarry slope deformation is becoming increasingly routine. With the developments in software and the availability of quite inexpensive, high-power computing facilities numeric al modelling of complex slope problems is now a real possibility. Numerical modelling can provide analyses of complex two- or three-dimensional proble ms involving jointed rock that are difficult, if not impossible, with conve ntional limit-equilibrium techniques. A general review is given of the techniques available to geologists and des ign engineers in the quarrying industry for the investigation of slope stab ility. The positive contribution of numerical modelling has been highlighte d by recent investigations, but good modelling practice must be followed to ensure that it is not applied incorrectly.