Abstract Flexural toppling is a common mode of instability of anti-dip bedding rock slopes. However, there is currently no theoretical method available for determining the failure surface associated with this kind of failure. In this work, a limit equilibrium model combined with a genetic algorithm (LEM-GA) method was proposed for predicting the safety factors and failure surfaces of rock slopes subject to flexural toppling failure. A MATLAB program was subsequently developed to implement the proposed method which takes the geometric and mechanical parameters of the slope as inputs and the safety factor and potential failure surface associated with the slope as outputs. Two test models were used to check the validity of the LEM-GA method. The correspondence between the calculated and experimental results is good which demonstrates the feasibility of using the LEM-GA method to predict the stability of this kind of slope. The LEM-GA method is also extended to investigate the effect of non-uniform joint spacing on slope stability. The results indicate that when an average joint spacing is used to assess the stability of a non-uniform slope, the predictions made are conservative and err on the safe side. The LEM-GA method proposed in this work offers a sound basis for evaluating the stability of anti-dip bedding rock slopes and improving their design.

中文翻译：

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使用极限平衡模型和遗传算法评估岩石边坡在弯曲倾覆破坏方面的稳定性

摘要 弯曲倾覆是反倾层岩质边坡失稳的一种常见形式。然而，目前还没有可用的理论方法来确定与此类故障相关的故障面。在这项工作中，提出了一种结合遗传算法（LEM-GA）方法的极限平衡模型，用于预测受弯曲倾覆破坏的岩石边坡的安全系数和破坏面。随后开发了一个 MATLAB 程序来实现所提出的方法，该方法将边坡的几何和力学参数作为输入，并将与边坡相关的安全系数和潜在破坏面作为输出。两个测试模型用于检查 LEM-GA 方法的有效性。计算结果与试验结果吻合较好，证明了用LEM-GA方法预测该类边坡稳定性的可行性。LEM-GA 方法还扩展到研究非均匀节理间距对边坡稳定性的影响。结果表明，当使用平均节理间距来评估非均匀边坡的稳定性时，所做的预测是保守的，并且在安全方面是错误的。本文提出的 LEM-GA 方法为评价抗倾层岩质边坡的稳定性和改进其设计提供了良好的基础。结果表明，当使用平均节理间距来评估非均匀边坡的稳定性时，所做的预测是保守的，并且在安全方面是错误的。本文提出的 LEM-GA 方法为评价抗倾层岩质边坡的稳定性和改进其设计提供了良好的基础。结果表明，当使用平均节理间距来评估非均匀边坡的稳定性时，所做的预测是保守的，并且在安全方面是错误的。本文提出的 LEM-GA 方法为评价抗倾层岩质边坡的稳定性和改进其设计提供了良好的基础。