Characterization of shear strength parameters and deformation properties of a boulder scree material for use in reliability predictions of slope safety

摘要

A case study is presented in which the stability of a boulder scree slope was assessed. A parallel grading technique was used in conjunction with conventional triaxial testing to establish the shear strength parameters of a slope that contained boulders up to 1 000 mm in size. Shear values obtained were correlated with those back-calculated from bearing capacity predictions based on the results of plate load tests and on formulations used in rock slope engineering. These shear strength parameters were used in a deterministic and probabilistic assessment of slope safety.