Grout Improvement Effect in Jointed

Rock Slope by Numerical Modeling

Method
Wenyuan Li
School of Urban and Rural Construction, Chengdu University, Chengdu 610106,
China
e-mail: liwenyuancu2011@126.com

Qihong Wu*
School of Urban and Rural Construction, Chengdu University, Chengdu 610106,
China
* Corresponding author e-mail: wuqihong2009@126.com

ABSTRACT
In the past, stress and deformation responses of cranny slope reinforced by compressive
grouting are often obtained by laboratory or in-situ (field) tests, which cost much expense.
Recently, however, rapid advances in computer technology and sustained development have
pushed the numerical analysis like the method of fast Lagrangian analysis of continua three
dimensions (FLAC3D) to the forefront of geotechnical practice, which explores a new way for
geotechnical designing. In this paper, effect of grouting reinforcement to the stress and
deformation of rock mass are analyzed, while grouting consists in injecting into the rock mass
a cement grout mixture under controlled pressures and volumes, which can reduce the
permeability and lead to the improvement in terms of mechanical properties of rock mass
itself. When project expense is taken into consideration, the analytical solutions are obtained
by theoretical analysis to find out the effective grouting areas. At last, FLAC3D is used to
build the model of cranny slope with complicated geometry, then calculate the response of
each grid so as to analyze the macroscopic effects of slope, which show that, after grouting,
stress and displacement of rock mass become more symmetrical and continuous. Tensile
stress areas reduce gradually. Grouting in cranny slope can improve its stability greatly.
KEYWORDS: Numerical simulation, slope, stress, deformation, effect.

INTRODUCTION
Cement grouting constitutes one of the major techniques used for stabilization in civil
engineering [1-5]. It consists in injecting into the rock mass a cement grout mixture under
controlled pressures and volumes. The main results expected from this process are a reduction in
permeability and an improvement in terms of mechanical properties. But it is seldom applied in
slope engineering, with the reason that the mechanism of grouting is still not well known. Some
scholars have studied the effects of grouting to rock mass by tests in laboratory or insitu-field and
theoretically [6-9]. Recently, however, rapid advances in computer technology and sustained
evelopment have pushed the numerical analysis like the method of fast lagrangian analysis of

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 Vol. 18 [2013], Bund. B 260

continua three dimensions (FLAC3D) to the forefront of geotechnical practice, which explores a
new way for geotechnical designing [10-14]. Numerical calculation results are integrals of
reflections in small units, whose behavior is exactly based on the classical mechanical theory, so
it is a good way, at least better than the theory deduction based on the simple models, to study the
effect of rock slope, just as long as the simulation models are close to the real situation. In the
present paper, firstly we try to find out the effective grouting area (which joint planes should be
grouted and which should not), then study the macroscopic effect such as stress and deformation
of rock jointed slope before and after grouting, so as to give some guidance for the practical
situation.

EFFECTIVE GROUTING AREA

In order to calculate the effective grouting areas (EGA), analytical solutions are done, shown
in Fig.1, with assumption that the slope face strikes parallel to the underlying exfoliation surface.
In the calculation model, natural angle is β 2 , thickness of slope is d , dip angle of excavated
slope is α , joint plane inclination is β 1 , distance between Bi and C is Li . It is obvious that
stability of slope is controlled by joint plane. Studies are only done for the failure mode of
slipping along joint plane, where α > β 1 .
A Bi
β 2
E C
F Joint plane

α Di
O
Rock mass β1

Figure 1: Theory deduction model

For plane Bi Di , the safety factor of slope can be obtain,

S BD Fki
Fs＝ = (1)
τ BD Fxi

i i
where Fk is resisting force of block Bi CDi , Fx is driving force.

Relationships of parameters are,

 Vol. 18 [2013], Bund. B 261

Li sin( β 1 − β 2 )
Di C = (2)
sin(α − β 1 )

1 (3)
G BiCDi = γ ⋅ d Bi C ⋅ Di C sin(α − β 2 )
2

where GBi CDi is the gravity of Bi CDi , γ is the average unit weight of Bi CDi .
i i
Then Fk and Fx can be obtained as,

c j Li sin(α − β 2 ) ⋅ d
Fki = GBiCDi cos β1 tan φ j + (4)
sin(α − β1 )

Fxi = G Bi CDi sin β 1 (5)

where φ j is friction angle of joint plane, c j is cohesion of joint plane.

i i
Substituting Fk and Fx in eq.(1) with eqs.(4) and (5), yields,

c j Li sin(α − β 2 )
GBiCDi cos β1 tan φ j +
sin(α − β1 ) (6)
Fs =
GBiCDi sin β1

If Fs = 1 , block Bi CDi is in the critical state of stability, then the critical slippage length
can be calculated as follow, according to eq. (6),

2c j
Lcr = (7)
γ sin( β1 − β 2 )(sin β1 − cos β1 tan φ j )

Supposing that AC = L0 , the following statements can be announced that, (a) if Lcr > L0 ,
slope is in stable state; (b) if Lcr = L0 , slope is in critical stability state; (c) if Lcr < L0 , slope is
in unstable state.
EGA is in the range between Lcr and L0 . After grouting, c and φ of rock mass increase,
and Lcr also increase according to eq.(7). If Lcr reaches the condition of (a), slippage along joint
plane is controlled, which it is believed that slope is in stable state.
 Vol.
V 18 [201
13], Bund. B 26
62

NUM
MERICA
AL SIMU
ULATION
N

MO
ODELING
G
Models
M for jo
ointed slope are divided intto two groupss: (1) before ggrouting; (2) after grouting.
Threee joint planes are placed in n the slope. The
T elasto-plaatic block elem ment with low wer strength is
choseen to simulatee joint plane, with inclination of 40° annd thickness oof 0.1m. Planne strain model
is buiilt with 9 795 5 triangular elements
e and 3 293 grids.. Size and roock parameterrs of slope arre
shown n in Fig.2. Natural
N angle is 10º, sloope angle aft fter excavatioon is 75º. G Gravity load is
perforrmed as an in nitial mechaniical loading. According
A too eq.(7) Lcrr = 12.71m , L0 = 54.26m ,
L1 = 9.51m
9 and L2 = 29.09m . It is obviou
us that Lcr < L2 < L0 , then the second and third joinnt
planes are in EGA which need to
t be grouted..

Figure 2: Numerical m
model

MONITO
M RING PO
OINTS
Failure
F ock mass is closely relaated to its iinner structuure plane andd stress field.
of ro
Perturrbation inducced by excavaation will cause deformatioon of rock maass in nonlineear mechanical
way. In order to reflect the nonlinear procedure of displacemennt in differennt time stepps,
monittoring points from K01 to K08 are locaated in slope . These displlacements chaange with tim me
steps, and called dynamic
d displacement. Aftter excavationn, displacemeents of particlles converge tto
certain values, and
d called static displacementts, which are recorded by mmonitoring pooints from P001
to P100, shown in Fig.3.
F
 Vol. 18 [2013], Bund. B 263

K04
First joint plane
K03
K02 K01
P01 Nature slope direction

20m
P02
P03 K05
P04 Second
P05
Third joint P06 K06 joint plane
P07
plane P08
P09 K07
K08 P10
50m

Rock mass

Figure 3: Monitoring points

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Static total displacements of slope before and after grouting are shown in Fig.4. Before
grouting, displacements of monitoring points are divided into three groups (three bifurcation
groups along monitoring lines), but the magnitudes of bifurcation are small. The bifurcation
occurs at the places of joint planes. Values of displacement reduce gradually from surface to
internal of slope. After grouting, displacements along each monitoring line are different from that
before grouting. In the same monitoring line, displacements of each monitoring line (except line
P01 and line P02) change fluently without mutation phenomenon, and reduce gradually from
surface to internal, which is the same as that before grouting. But bifurcation still exists in some
monitoring lines like line P01 and line P02, which is because the first joint plane has not been
grouted.
Vol. 18 [2013], Bund. B 264

60

50
Before grouting

Total displacement/ mm
p01
40
p02
p03
30 p04
p05
p06
20
p07
p08
10 p09
p10
0

0 10 20 30 40 50
Along nature slope direction/ m
(a) before grouting
8

7
p01
6 p02
Total displacement/ mm

p03
After grouting
5 p04
p05
4 p06
p07
3 p08
p09
2
p10

0
0 10 20 30 40 50
Along natural slope direction/ m
(b) after grouting
Figure 4: Static total displacement of slope
 Vol. 18 [2013], Bund. B 265

60

50

Total displacement/ mm
40 K01
K02
K03
30 Before grouting K04
K05
20 K06
K07
K08
10

0 20 40 60 80 100 120
4
Step/ 10
(a) before grouting
8

6 After grouting
Total displacement/ mm

5
K01
K02
K03
4
K04
K05
3
K06
K07
2
K08
1

0 5 10 15 20 25 30
3
Step/ 10
(b) after grouting
Figure 5: Dynamic total displacement of slope
Fig.5 shows the relationships of dynamic total displacements and calculation steps. For
monitoring points located on the top of slope, the magnitudes of displacements at the same step
reduce gradually from surface to the internal in sequence of K01→ K02 → K03 → K04. At their
convergence phases, the peak values of displacement as well as curve’s slope reduce in the same
sequence. For points on the surface of slope, values of displacement as well as curve’s slope
reduce in the sequence of K05→ K06 → K07 → K08. Among all the monitoring points, K01 has
the largest magnitude of displacement, so it is suitable to choose K01 as the characteristic point
for deformation monitoring. Besides, displacement of K08 stays at the same value in most part of
calculation procedure, with the reason that it is under the joint plane and little affected by slipping
of block along joint plane. After grouting, magnitudes of displacements reduce greatly, which is
because grouting strengthens the joint plane. For monitoring point on the top of slope,
displacements reduce in the sequence K01→ K02 → K03 → K04, while for monitoring points on
the surface of slope, values of displacement increase in sequence of K06 → K07 → K08, which
 Vol. 18 [2013], Bund. B 266

is different from that before grouting. This is because rock mass become uniform and continuous
after grouting. But the displacement of K08 remains the same after grouting when compared to
that before grouting, which results from that K08 is at the toe of slope, and the toe of slope
remain stable before grouting, so grouting done in joint plane affect little the displacement of
K08. After grouting joint planes change from weakness plane to stiffness plane with the
increasing of vertical stress. And we can also see that, the slope of each curve becomes steeper
than that before grouting, which indicates the stiffness improvement.
Fig. 6 shows the maximum principal stress of slope before and after grouting. Maximum
principal stress is an important factor to determine the state of element. According to Mohr-
Coulomb criterion, when certain principal stress states of a particle have reached the failure
envelope, the unbalance force of this particle can then be transferred into adjacent particles,
which contribute to the increase of its unbalance force, in turn lead to the initiation of sliding. If
the failure points connect to form a sliding plane, the unstable rock mass will slip. After
excavation, most parts of slope are in stable state, the maximum principal stress in these places is
compressive. But at the places near joint plane, the stress is tensile and concentrated, and result in
hidden factor for the instability of slope because rock mass can not resist great tensile stress.
After grouting, physical parameters of joint plane are improved, and the shear resisting strength
and shear resisting stiffness increase, which result in stress fields in slope becoming more
continuous. The magnitudes of stress near joint plane become smaller, with the phenomenon of
bifurcation in joint plane reduced, and stability, uniformity of slope improved.

SIG3(Pa)
600000
500000
400000
300000
200000
100000
0
-100000
-200000
-300000
-400000

(a) before grouting

(Figure 6 continues on the next page)

 Vol. 18 [2013], Bund. B 267

SIG3(Pa)
400000
339286
278571
217857
157143
96428.6
35714.3
-25000
-85714.3
-146429
-207143
-267857
-328571
-389286
-450000

(b) after grouting

Figure 6: The maximum principal stress

CONCLUSION
(1) Theory models are founded for the slopes with its angle α greater than joint plane angle
β , critical slippage length Lcr for joint slope is deducted, then the effective grouting areas are
conformed.
(2) Numerical simulation models are founded for excavated slope before and after grouting
by FLAC3D, results of calculations show that, for slope before grouting, displacements fields of
rock mass redistribute during the excavation procedure, and there are many tensile areas near
joint planes which lead to the tensile crannies in slope. The magnitude of displacement and
deformation are large near joint plane. The bifurcations of displacements happen when the
monitoring lines passing joint planes, stress distributions are asymmetry in rock mass, which
influence the stability of slope; For slope after grouting, displacement field and stress field
become smooth, large magnitudes of deformations near joint plane are controlled. At the same
time, the tensile crannies on the top of slope reduce, which is good to the stability of slope.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT
This paper gets the funding from Project (09JJ6063) supported by Hunan Provincial Natural
Science Foundation of China; Project (201012200069) supported by the freedom explore
Program of Central South University.

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