Determination of the stable slope configuration of oval-shaped furrow pits

The space effects of oval-shaped furrow pit slopes were analyzed by the elastic mechanics principle. The interaction of limit equilibrium slope angle, friction coefficient, cohesion and horizontal radius of ovalshaped furrow pits has been derived. The oval trumpet-like rock mass is homogeneous and elastic while only loaded by its dead weight. The interaction indicates that the deeper an oval-shaped furrow pit is excavated, the greater the limit equilibrium slope angle. Both the theory base for reducing stripping waste rock in an oval-shaped furrow pit and the basic way to determine the configuration of a stable slope were developed from the mentioned interaction. The theory includes the preceding principles of stability analysis of slopes. Compared with the configuration determined by traditional theory of slope stability, a great quantity of stripping waste rock can be reduced by that determined in this paper under stable conditions.