Rockfall and Toppling Failure Simulation of Rock Slopes using 3-Dimensional Discontinuous Deformation Analysis

Many researches on disaster prevention using computer simulation methods can be performed to minimize the damage of property and to protect human life. Discontinuous deformation analysis (DDA) is a new computer simulation method to analyze the behavior of discontinuous rock masses. Since most rock slope problems are 3-dimensional in nature, 2-dimensional deformation analysis has limited application. In this study, the basic principles of 3-dimensional discontinuous deformation analysis are described. The newly developed 3-dimensional discontinuous deformation analysis method is proposed as the computer simulation method for discontinuous rock masses. Then, the failure behavior of rock slopes are simulated using 3-dimensional discontinuous deformation analysis. The simulation results are compared and examined with the failure behavior at the rock slopes. The results show the applicability of 3-dimensional discontinuous deformation analysis to analyze the deformation and failure mechanisms of rock slopes.