The purpose of this paper is to study on the mechanism of failure of rock slopes by the model test through the use of the centrifuge equiped the apparatus for the strain measurement in models.
For the purpose of the theoretical study, the authors have first analyzed the elasto-plastic behaviors of rock slopes by the use of Finite Element Method and the results of this analysis have been compared with the experimental results of the model test. This comparison shows that the slide of rock slope occurs on a circular like plane and at the same time the tension crack breaks out behind the slope and this slope slide can be foreseen by the measurement of strain on the upper horizontal surface behind the slope. In the case of stable slope, this strain increment is compressive, but in the case of unstable slope, this is tensile. Moreover, it is found that the values of the stability factor, as determined by the elasto-plastic analysis, are respectively nearly equal to the results of the two dimensional limit analysis supposed slides on the circular arcs. Finally, the authors have analyzed the quantitative relation between the experimental results and the theoretical stability factors and concretely refered to the strain softning phenomena in the plastic area neighboring the toe of the slope.
