Read, JRL 2007, 'Rock Slope Stability Research', in Y Potvin (ed.), Slope Stability 2007: Proceedings of the 2007 International Symposium on Rock Slope Stability in Open Pit Mining and Civil Engineering, Australian Centre for Geomechanics, Perth, pp. 355-359, https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_repo/708_Read
(https://papers.acg.uwa.edu.au/p/708_Read/)
Abstract: The methods we use to describe the anisotropic strength of closely jointed rock masses are highly subjective 
and experiential. Consequently, there is a need to construct an ‘equivalent material’ that honours the 
strength of the intact rock and joint fabric within the rock bridges that may occur along a candidate failure 
surface in a closely jointed rock mass. We then need to be able to use this model to simulate the brittle 
fracture that can and does propagate across the joint fabric within the rock bridges as the rock mass 
deforms. It has been found that the Bonded Particle Method utilised by the Itasca PFC numerical modelling 
codes may be able to provide such a material model. Known as the Synthetic Rock Mass (SRM) model, the 
model represents the intact rock in the rock bridges with an assemblage of bonded particles and the joints by 
a sliding joint model that allows associated particles to slide through, rather than over, one another and so 
represent joints that slide and open in the normal way. In 3-D block caving simulations SRM rock bridge 
fracture has been found to be widespread. From a rock slope stability point of view the model has the 
potential to provide a means of developing a strength envelope that does not rely on either Mohr Coulomb or 
Hoek-Brown criteria. Similarly, the inverse of providing Hoek-Brown parameters and calibrating the Hoek-
Brown strength envelope should also be possible. A rock mass characterisation program with numerical and 
empirical comparisons involving SRM test samples calibrated with intact rock and joint data coming from 
different mine sites has therefore been developed to test the concept in conjunction with studies to utilise the 
model in PFC and continuum/discontinuum codes for slope stability analysis purposes.