Análise da estabilidade de taludes rochosos fraturadas utilizando elementos finitos de alta razão de aspecto

Abstract

The behavior of rock slopes is highly complex, as the presence of discontinuities directly affects their stability, and accurate analysis can prevent accidents and reduce operational costs. In this context, the development and validation of a numerical model based on the Finite Element Method (FEM) is proposed to simulate the mechanical behavior of these slopes, incorporating High Aspect Ratio Finite Elements (HAR-FE) to represent fractures. These elements can reproduce the behavior of discontinuities (i.e., fissures and fractures) through continuous damage constitutive models, allowing their introduction into the original mesh at the fracture location. Consequently, the failure process accounts for the influence of existing fractures. This technique has been widely used to model fractures in concrete structures, petroleum engineering, and soil desiccation. However, its potential has not yet been explored or extended to investigate slopes composed of rock masses. The model was implemented in the CODE_BRIGHT software and compared to simulations performed in the commercial software RS2, which uses zero-thickness elements to model discontinuities. The adopted methodology includes the Shear Strength Reduction (SSR) technique to determine the slope safety factor, along with the application of the Mohr-Coulomb constitutive model for the rock mass and the Mohr-Coulomb frictional damage model for fractures. The results were validated using reference studies from the literature, demonstrating good agreement between the approaches used. The findings indicate that the HAR-FE approach allows for a detailed representation of fracture behavior, contributing to a more realistic analysis of rock slope stability.