Application of Manifold Method (MM) to the stability problems for cut slopes along the national roads

Abstract

Recently one of the most challenging problems for civil engineers is how to construct new structures/infrastructures adjacent pre-existing ones and how to evaluate the effect of the new construction on the pre-existing structures (so-called neighbouring construction). The Manifold Method (MM) is one of the discontinuum based numerical approaches to simulate the mechanical behaviour of fractured rock masses including large deformation/displacement along fractures as well as stress/strain conditions of the rock blocks/masses. In this study, the MM was used to investigate the stability of the cut slope in the highly fractured rock masses along one of the national roads in Japan, focusing on the effects of new construction on the pre-existing structures/infrastructures. The effect of reinforcement during the construction such as rock bolts, anchors, etc. was also investigated and evaluated quantitatively by numerical simulations using MM.

Keywords:

• word; slope stability
• neighbouring construction
• discontinuous rock masses
• numerical simulation
• Manifold Method (MM)