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Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology
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Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology; 1981; v. 14; issue.2; p. 77-86;
DOI: 10.1144/GSL.QJEG.1981.014.02.01
© 1981 Geological Society of London

Article

An analysis of secondary toppling rock failures—the stress redistribution method

R. S. Evans

Material Research Division, , Country Roads Board, 60 Denmark Street, Kew, Victoria 3101, Australia

Following the terminology of Goodman & Bray (1976), several examples of secondary toppling failures are presented. Six possible failure mechanisms are considered; bearing capacity failure or differential settlement due to weathering and creep with associated stress redistribution are concluded to be the most likely failure mechanisms; however, the former is not supported by field evidence. The differential settlement mechanism involves stress relaxation in the basal softer rocks (claystones) whereby the overburden load is redistributed to the fresher materials, thus reducing the amount of differential settlement likely to occur. The lateral constraints provided by horizontal stresses may temporarily inhibit this mechanism.


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Discussion on ‘An analysis of secondary toppling rock failures—the stress distribution method’ by R. S. Evans
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Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology 1983 16: 243-244. [Abstract]  



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