Slope Stability Analysis for TH53 Relocation, Virginia, MN
In September 2017, the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) completed the relocation of a portion of T.H. 53 between Eveleth and Virginia, MN. The relocation project included the construction of a 1,100-foot bridge crossing the existing Rouchleau iron ore pit. The relocation of T.H. 53, plus subsequent mining, will eventually create a so-called isthmus that carries the roadway from the current alignment to the east end of the bridge. Once mining occurs, the isthmus cross-section will be a trapezoid 300 ft wide at the top, with downslopes of 53 degrees, and up to about 500 ft deep. Information regarding rock bedding, jointing, and faulting was collected using three methods: down-the-hole televiewer logging; photogrammetry; and geomechanical core logging. The presence of subvertical joints indicated the possibility of flexural toppling along the isthmus slope. Using the collected discontinuity data, a kinematic analysis was performed and the resulting factor of safety was found acceptable. In addition to a kinematic analysis, multiple two-dimensional stability analyses were performed using UDEC, a discrete element modeling software. The UDEC models showed an unacceptable factor of safety. Consequently, a three-dimensional 3DEC analysis was performed. The 3DEC analysis was necessary to fully capture behavior of isthmus geometry and jointing, and to show that flexural toppling wasn’t a concern.
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Supplemental Notes:
- Copyright © 2018 Highway Geology Symposium (HGS). Abstract reprinted with permission of the HGS.
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Corporate Authors:
Highway Geology Symposium
, United States -
Authors:
- Brose, Anya
- Person, Gary
- Petersen, Lee
- Shinnefield, Andrew
- Peterson, Ryan
- Cotesta, Luigi
- Dasenbrock, Derrick
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Conference:
- 69th Highway Geology Symposium
- Location: Portland Maine, United States
- Date: 2018-9-10 to 2018-9-13
- Publication Date: 2018
Language
- English
Media Info
- Media Type: Digital/other
- Features: Figures; Illustrations; Tables;
- Pagination: pp 114-132
- Monograph Title: Proceedings of the 69th Highway Geology Symposium (HGS 2018)
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Bending stress; Footbridges; Geometry; Geophysics; Kinematics; Mining; Photogrammetry; Slope stability; Slopes; Software; Stability analysis
- Identifier Terms: Minnesota Department of Transportation
- Geographic Terms: Virginia (Minnesota)
- Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Construction; Geotechnology; Highways;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 01719279
- Record Type: Publication
- Files: TRIS
- Created Date: Oct 11 2019 2:56PM