Going Forward: What Can We Do?

Limit Equilibrium Analysis of Slopes

Can We Improve Characterization?

Can we measure the inputs needed for numerical modelling?

Better characterize fracture networks, joint stiffness and strength

Can we keep better records?

Organized, well-kept, electronic records/data

Can We Improve Brittle Rock Modelling?

Common in many rock engineering situations

Can We Improve Brittle Rock Modelling?

Can we better model range of brittle fracture behaviours?

Brittle failure initiationPropagation of fractures after initiationBehaviour after failure – spalling, buckling, etc.

Potential of application of discontinuous numerical methodsDevelopment of improved constitutive models

Can We Better Apply Numerical Tools?

Can we progress towards quantitative predictions?Field measurements + back-analysis for in situ properties

Can we determine how efficient our designs are?Field measurements and monitoring in order to assess by how much we over-design

Can We Better Capture Variability?

Modelling of uncertainty and spatial variability?Application of

Conventional statistical approaches

Case IFS = 1.35, PF = 11.4%

Case IIFS = 1.12, PF = 0.71%

Can We Better Capture Variability?

Application of Geostatistics/Random Field Theory – resolution of tension between using ‘averaged’ values and ‘discrete’ values at different locationsRisk management techniques

Can We Better Capture Variability?

Factors of safety – ranged from 0.95 to 2.1

Thoughts on Implications of DFNs

Need for multiple realizationsAppropriately scaled block properties

Thoughts? Ideas? Questions?