RocSlope is a new tool for geological and geotechnical engineers modeling rock slope stability in blocky rock masses. Rocscience, a leading provider of advanced geotechnical software solutions, has built on the familiar 3D platform of their Slide3 and RS3 programs that should revolutionize the assessment of rock slope stability.
RocSlope enables engineers to assess the factors of safety of hundreds or even thousands of blocks in highly jointed rock masses. It combines the Block Theory of Shi and Goodman with kinematic analysis tools from Swedge/Unwedge/RocPlane, stereonet and discontinuity set analysis from Dips, and the 3D modeling and visualization tools of RS3 and Slide3, plus a full suite of probabilistic tools…all in one package.
“RocSlope will be a game-changer for engineers working in the civil and mining industries. By using the same 3D technology you’ve come to expect from our tools like Slide3 and RS3, RocSlope will provide users a new method of analyzing the stability of their slopes. We believe RocSlope will expand the way we look at rock slope stability and will ultimately lead to safer and more efficient engineering practices.”
Thamer Yacoub – CEO & President of Rocscience
Key Features of RocSlope
- Model 3D Geological Structures: RocSlope allows engineers to model structurally controlled failures in blocky rock masses, including faults, joints, bedding, folds, and foliations. It provides the flexibility to define joints using measured data, synthetic joint sets, or discrete surfaces. So in other words, you can plug in every joint and discontinuity mapped on a 3D point cloud, or you can plug in scanline data and have it generate the full fracture network, or plug in average joint set properties and let it generate synthetic joint sets.
- Block Stability Analysis: By determining valid blocks formed by the intersection of joints, RocSlope calculates the stability of each block using the limit equilibrium method. Factors such as weight, shear strength, water pressure, loading, and supports are taken into consideration to obtain a factor of safety.
- Probabilistic Analysis: RocSlope enables engineers to perform probabilistic analysis, incorporating variability in rock unit weight, joint shear strength, and water pressure parameters. This analysis provides location-specific probabilities of failure, empowering engineers to make informed decisions.
- Visualizing Results: RocSlope offers intuitive visualization tools, including heat maps, that highlight locations with the lowest factors of safety, largest failure volumes and depths, and the greatest support requirements. This visual representation aids in identifying potential risk zones and facilitates targeted mitigation strategies.
Why RocSlope?
The development of RocSlope was driven by Rocscience’s commitment to meeting the evolving needs of geotechnical engineers. By actively listening to customer feedback and engaging with professionals in academia and practice, Rocscience identified the demand for an integrated 3D tool capable of block stability analysis and risk assessment for complex slopes in the civil and mining industries.
[Editor] Rocscience is a sponsor of GeoPrac.net. [/Editor]
