A layered rock slope often forms an anti-dip state due to tectonic movement in the historical past. In the mountainous gorge area of Southwest China, the layered rock slopes are prone to toppling and deformation due to the influence of gravity and in situ stress. The stability of these slopes after excavation is very important. The failure modes and laws of anti-dip slopes are mainly affected by factors such as lithology, dip angle and rock thickness. In this paper, the excavation process of a slope was simulated by the discrete element method, and the stability after slope excavation was analysed by comparison with field monitoring data, taking the high rock slope of a hydropower station as an example. In addition, the influence of different factors on the anti-dip rock slope was analysed by setting different factors in the model. The rock thickness was set to 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35 metres for the same excavated model. The dip angle of the rock was set to 65, 70, 75, 80 and 85 degrees. Two major lithologies, hard rock (sandstone) and soft rock (slate), were considered in this study. The results show that the thickness and dip angle of the rock strata affected the scale of the deformation zone and the stability of the anti-dip stratified slope. However, the lithology of the anti-dip rock slope determined the failure mode of toppling failure.

The foundation of a large river crossing bridge is often located on high and steep slopes in mountainous area, and the stability of the slope has a significant impact on the safety of the bridge. Not only the bridge load, but also the hydro-dynamical action in the reservoir area has a significant impact on the stability of the bank slope where the bridge foundation is located, especially for the toppling bank slope. This paper takes the stability of the toppling bank slope where the one major bridge foundation is located at on the Lancang River in China as an example. Through on-site exploration, drilling data and core conditions, and television images of the borehole, the geological structure of the on-site bank slope were conducted. Based on the development of the dumping body obtained from on-site exploration, corresponding indicators have been proposed from the perspectives of rock inclination, deformation, and rock quality to clarify the degree of dumping along the depth of the bank slope. The failure mechanism of the overturned bank slope under the action of a bridge was analyzed from a mechanical perspective. Numerical simulations were conducted using GeoStudio 2018:SEEP/W and FLAC3D 6.0 software to analyze the failure modes of bridge loads and hydrodynamic forces under different water levels and rainfall conditions. The seepage field characteristics, failure modes, and stability characteristics were analyzed from a two-dimensional perspective, while the displacement characteristics, plastic zone, and stress–strain characteristics were explored from a three-dimensional perspective, which revealed the evolution mode of overturned deformation under the action of bridge foundation loads. Finally, the stability of the wide slope was numerically calculated using the strength reduction method, and the stability calculation data was combined with the numerical simulation results to determine the optimal location of the bridge foundation.

In view of the broken rock mass in the surrounding rock of large underground caverns, the 3D distribution model of the joints is obtained through the on-site investigation of the joints and the digital imaging technology, and the image processing software. Based on the analysis of the mutual cutting degree of the joints and the geometric shape of the block, the concepts and calculation methods of the degree of fragmentation and the degree of bite are proposed, and the degree of rock mass fragmentation is quantitatively described. Furthermore, the multi-factor analysis method is used to establish the quality evaluation method and the standard of broken rock mass based on the degree of rock fragmentation and the degree of bite, and the failure mode and safety criterion of broken rock mass of surrounding rock are proposed. Applying the discrete element numerical analysis method, the mechanical parameters of different broken rock masses are obtained. The reinforcement analysis of the surrounding rock of different broken rock masses shows that the degree of fragmentation, the degree of bite, and the classification of surrounding rock proposed in this paper can implement precise reinforcement measures for the surrounding rock of different broken rock masses, as it provides an important theoretical basis for the surrounding rock safety of large underground caverns in the broken rock mass and has wide applicability.

The surrounding rock stability of large underground caverns in a pumped storage power station is one of the most crucial problems in hydropower project design and construction. In the construction of hydropower projects in Southwest China, many underground soft-rock caverns in are excavated. Influenced by the high sidewall, high ground stress, large burial depth, and hydrodynamic pressure action, the deformation of the cavern is special, especially in terms of its soft-rock distribution. At present, most research of underground engineering on soft-rock stability focuses on small-scale tunnel excavations in homogeneous geological conditions, with limited studies on the large-scale excavation of deeply buried underground powerhouses in complex geological structures, featuring extensive soft-rock-layer exposure on the cavern wall. Therefore, it is particularly important to investigate the excavation method of and support measures for soft-rock caverns under complex geological conditions. Based on laboratory rock mechanics testing (petrographic analysis, uniaxial compressive strength tests, shear tests, and triaxial compression creep tests) and the distribution characteristics of the surrounding soft-rock layer of the proposed underground powerhouse, obtained from the survey, we discuss the excavation and support measurements. These include the influence of support measures on the deformation of the underground excavated cavern considering the inclination of rock layers, the impact of the excavation under supported conditions on the deformation of the underground cavern, and the correlation between the lining thickness and stress variation within the lining.

The Fangshan landslide was a rainfall-induced landslide that occurred in a volcanic area in the Fangshan scenic spot, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China. On 25 October 2016, after approximately 10 days of continuous rainfall, a shallow landslide rapidly developed, which triggered slow movement of deep mudstone rock. According to the characteristics of the landslide body, measures such as anti-slide piles, anchor cables and drainage were used to reinforce the landslide. Active drainage measures included arranging plant growth zones at the trailing edge of the landslide, and passive drainage measures included arranging pumping wells at the trailing edge of the landslide. It is worth emphasizing that the Fangshan landslide was the first example of a landslide in Jiangsu Province, China that was treated by actively lowering the water pressure. After landslide treatment from 16 May 2017 to 21 January 2018, the Fangshan landslide tended to be stable. However, the stable landslide was reactivated by the rise in groundwater level caused by rainfall and pumping well damage and underwent accelerated downward sliding in July 2020. The Fangshan landslide has caused great damage to the roads and buildings of Fangshan scenic spot, with a direct loss of RMB 6 million and an indirect loss of RMB 95 million. This article discusses the development process of the shallow soil landslide and the underlying deep mudstone rock landslide. The influence of groundwater level variation on the deformation of the shallow soil landslide and deep mudstone rock landslide of the Fangshan landslide are also discussed.