On the limit state design of bolted rock slopes: Challenges and a way forward

Abstract

Design of support for rock slopes has traditionally used deterministic safety factors for verification of the structural safety. Following the introduction of limit state design concepts to modern design codes like the Eurocodes, there is a strong trend to implement limit state design also to rock engineering structures. A recent example is the second generation of Eurocode 7, which suggests that limit states be set up for bolted rock slopes and verified using partial factors. There is, however, a lack of research regarding the applicability of limit state design principles in general – and the partial factor method in particular – to bolted rock slopes. In this short paper, we investigate the appropriateness of applying limit state design principles to bolted rock slopes. We aim to establish a way forward toward a consistent and rational design approach for rock slopes that satisfies societal safety requirements without being overly conservative, while still being user-friendly to practicing rock engineers.