A Sensitivity Analysis of the Anisotropy of Hydraulic Conductivity to the Seepage, Deformation and Stability of Anti-Dipping Layered Rock Slopes: A Case Study of the Pulang Area in Southwestern China

Abstract

\n In this paper, in order to study the influencing effects of anisotropy ratios and anisotropy directions on the seepage, deformations and stability of the anti-dipping layered rock slopes, Geo-studio software was used in this study to carry out this test based on the unsaturated seepage, fluid-solid coupling, and stability theory numerical analysis of carbonaceous slate slopes in Pulang area. The results showed that the maximum surface water content of the layered rock slopes gradually decreased with increases of the water conductivity anisotropy ratio and decreases in the anisotropy angle of the anti-dipping layered rock slopes. In addition, the rainfall infiltration depths in the middle sections of the slopes were observed to be the most affected by the anisotropy ratio and dip angles of the rock formations. Meanwhile, the bottom sections of slopes were the least affected by the anisotropy ratio and the dip angles of the rock formations. In regard to the anti-dipping rock slopes, it was found that the anisotropy ratio and rock layer dip angles should be considered in the deformation and stability analyses. When the seepage of an anti-dipping layered slope was considered to be isotropic, the safety factors often were overestimated. As the anisotropy ratio decreases and the anti-tilt angles of the layered planes increases, the safety factors of the slopes will gradually decrease. This study provided a feasible scheme for evaluating the seepage, deformations and stability of the anti-dipping layered rock slopes in southwest China’s Pulang area.