Numerical Simulations for Deformation and Failure of Layered Rock Slopes and Their Support Design by Particle Flow Code

In engineering construction, layered rock slopes are very common. Affected by their structural planes, the instability and deformation characteristics of those slopes are more complicated, therefore, it has caused certain difficulties in the design of support engineering. Thus, numerical models with different dip angles of strata were constructed based on a high and steep rock bedding slope as the prototype by the software PFC2D. A method of searching for potential sliding surfaces of slopes by the inversion method of critical loads was proposed and mesoscopic analysis on the process of deformation, instabibity and failure was performed. By comparing critical load coefficients, the relative stability of slopes with different dip angles of strata was obtained. The support effect of wall-anchor systems with different dip angles of strata was obviously different. The support effect of horizontal rock slopes and cut bedding slopes with large dig angles were better, while the supporting effect of reverse slopes were worse. In the optimization of support design for slopes, to increase the embedment ratio and embement angle within a certain range could improve the support effect. From the perspective of construction and economy, the support design with an embedment ratio of 0.33 and an embedment angle of 90° was recommended.