Flexural Toppling Mechanism and Stability Analysis of an Anti-dip Rock Slope

The occurrence and failure mechanisms of flexural toppling must be considered by researchers and engineers who perform stability analysis of anti-dip rock slope. Taking the Linda landslide near the Le'an Hydropower station in Southwest China as the prototype, this paper carried out physical model tests to study the characteristics and process of flexural toppling failure. The results are used to obtain the characteristics and mechanical mechanism of flexural toppling and the zoning of the slope. On the basis of the physical model testing, an equation to calculate the stability coefficient under flexural toppling is established using the limit equilibrium method and cantilever beam theory, and the most dangerous potential sliding surface is identified. Finally, sensitivity analysis of the geometric parameters is conducted to discuss their influence on the slope stability and the sliding surface location.