Evolution of Time–Frequency Dynamic Parameters During the Instability of Falling-Type Unstable Rock Masses: An Experimental Study
Source abstract
Abstract
Improving the accuracy of stable state identification and collapse early warning for unstable rock masses is an urgent challenge in slope engineering. In this study, a simplified dynamic model of falling-type unstable rock masses was established, and the dynamic response characteristics of unstable rock masses under different constraint conditions were investigated by combining modal analysis. Finally, physical model tests were carried out to explore the evolution of relevant time-domain and frequency-domain dynamic characteristic parameters during the entire process of falling-type unstable rock masses on slopes, ranging from a stable state, through the propagation of dominant structural planes, to final collapse. The results show that (1) the dominant frequency of the rock mass is independent of the magnitude and direction of excitation forces; (2) the coefficient of variation and waveform factor undergo significant changes during the critical failure stage; and (3) the acceleration amplitude ratio and natural frequency can synergistically and sensitively trace the progression of fracture development within the rock mass. An identification method for the stability stages of typical falling-type unstable rock masses was proposed, which integrates four time–frequency dynamic indicators. The stability state of unstable rock masses was divided into three phases: stable, fundamentally stable, and critical instability. This work provides a valuable reference for instability monitoring of falling-type unstable rock masses.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline
Research context
OpenAlex topics: Landslides and related hazards · Rock Mechanics and Modeling · Geotechnical Engineering and Analysis
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
Affiliations
School of Future Cities, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
School of Resources and Safety Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
Funding
National Natural Science Foundation of China · National Key Research and Development Program of China
References (49)
Show source-provided references
1. Ni, Z.Q., Kong, J.M., and Fayou, A. (2011, January 14–16). The Failure Mechanism Research of Jointed Rock Mass Slope. Proceedings of the International Conference on Civil Engineering and Transportation (ICCET 2011), Jinan, China.
2. A case study of pillar-shaped rock mass failure in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area, China10.1144/qjegh2015-034 ↗
3. Numerical Investigation of the Pre-collapse Behavior and Internal Damage of an Unstable Rock Slope10.1007/s00603-019-02031-z ↗
4. Variability effect of strength and geometric parameters on the stability factor of failure surfaces of rock slope by numerical analysis10.1007/s12517-020-06080-5 ↗
5. Effects of spatial variability of weak layer and seismic randomness on rock slope stability and reliability analysis10.1016/j.soildyn.2021.106735 ↗
6. Three-Dimensional Discontinuous Deformation Analysis of Failure Mechanisms and Movement Characteristics of Slope Rockfalls10.1007/s00603-021-02656-z ↗
7. Power law models for rockfall frequency-magnitude distributions: Review and identification of factors that influence the scaling exponent10.1016/j.geomorph.2022.108463 ↗
8. Classification of Post-Earthquake Highway Slope Collapse Disasters
9. Field investigation and numerical study of a siltstone slope instability induced by excavation and rainfall10.1007/s10346-020-01396-5 ↗
10. Luo, J., Pei, X., Jiang, R., Li, T., Sun, H., Jin, B., and Li, Q. (2023). The Characteristics and Seepage Stability Analysis of Toppling-Sliding Failure under Rainfall. Sustainability, 15.10.3390/su15107736 ↗
11. Study on deterioration mechanism of rock discontinuity under different dynamic disturbances10.1007/s10035-023-01367-2 ↗
12. A review and summary of the classification system, triggering factors, and global distribution of high and steep dangerous rocks10.1007/s12665-024-11977-5 ↗
13. A study of the mechanism of flexural toppling failure of rock slopes10.1007/BF01020126 ↗
14. Rock slope stability assessment through rock mass classification systems10.1016/j.ijrmms.2008.06.003 ↗
15. Rockfall characterisation and structural protection—A review10.5194/nhess-11-2617-2011 ↗
16. Characterization of the instability mechanisms affecting slopes on carbonatic Flysch: Alicante (SE Spain), case study10.1016/j.enggeo.2013.01.009 ↗
17. A block theory-based method for identifying the boundaries and movement modes of potential unstable bodies in rock slopes10.1007/s00603-025-04722-2 ↗
18. Wang, Y.P. (2016). Research on Deformation and Failure Mechanisms of Collapse Disasters and Monitoring and Early Warning. [Doctoral Dissertation, Chengdu University of Technology].
19. Motion characteristics of rockfall by combining field experiments and 3D discontinuous deformation analysis10.1016/j.ijrmms.2020.104591 ↗
20. Assessment and prevention on the potential rockfall hazard of high-steep rock slope: A case study of Zhongyuntai mountain in Lianyungang, China10.1007/s11069-022-05630-2 ↗
21. Impact failure and disaster processes associated with rockfalls based on three-dimensional discontinuous deformation analysis10.1002/esp.5893 ↗
22. Predicting the velocity and trajectory of a rockfall after collision considering the effects of slope properties10.1007/s11069-023-06278-2 ↗
23. Monitoring and Analysis of Deformation in the Chain Cliff Hazardous Rock Mass
24. Corominas, J., Moya, J., Ledesma, A., Rius, J., Gili, J.A., and Lloret, A. (1999). Monitoring of the Vallcebre landslide, Eastern Pyrenees, Spain. Slope Stability Engineering, Routledge.
25. Triggs, B. (1997, January 17–19). Autocalibration and the absolute quadric. Proceedings of the IEEE Computer Society Conference on Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition, San Juan, PR, USA.
26. Research on Automated Slope Deformation Monitoring Technology Based on Digital Photography
27. Integration of three-dimensional laser scanning with discontinuum modelling for stability analysis of tunnels in blocky rockmasses10.1016/j.ijrmms.2012.08.003 ↗
28. Research Progress on InSAR Technology Application in Landslide Disasters
29. Jia, Y., Song, G., Jiang, T., Yu, G., Liu, H., and Pan, X. (2022). Buried depth calculation of the slope of the unstable rock based on natural vibration frequency. Front. Earth Sci., 10.10.3389/feart.2022.929825 ↗
30. In-situ monitoring of rock slope destabilization with ambient seismic noise interferometry in southwest China10.1016/j.enggeo.2022.106922 ↗
31. Investigation of the Dynamic Response Pattern and Instability Mechanism of a Bedding Rock Slope Subjected to Frequent Seismic Loads10.1061/IJGNAI.GMENG-8834 ↗
32. Analysis of the frequency-response stability and reliability of a tower-column unstable rock mass on a high and steep slope10.1038/s41598-024-70941-2 ↗
33. Research and Prospects on Intelligent Monitoring and Early Warning of Brittle Failure Geological Hazards
34. He, Z., Xie, M.W., and Zhao, C. (2025). Investigation into the Micro-Inclination Deformation Patterns of Instability Rock Masses in Pull-Off Slopes Under Gravity-Dominated Conditions. J. Rock Mech. Eng., 1–17.
35. A new method for mechanical identification of unstable sliding rock10.1007/s10064-025-04378-w ↗
36. Experimental Study of the Applicability of the Remotely Positioned Laser Doppler Vibrometer to Rock-Block Stability Assessment10.1007/s00603-014-0577-x ↗
37. Natural Frequency Characteristics of Rock Masses Containing a Complex Geological Structure and Their Effects on the Dynamic Stability of Slopes10.1007/s00603-019-01885-7 ↗
38. Dynamic Response and Time-Frequency Characteristic of Dangerous Rocks under the Combined Action of Rock Cavity Weathering and Earthquake10.1155/2021/6626916 ↗
39. Experimental study on evolution law of dynamic characteristic parameters during the tunnel surrounding rock block collapse process10.1016/j.tust.2023.105336 ↗
40. Formation and Failure Mechanisms of Differentially Weathered Hazardous Rock Masses
41. Characteristics and Genesis of Deeply Differentiated Weathered Rock Masses in the Basaltic Slopes of Mount Emei
42. Research on the Mechanical Model and Failure Mechanism of Differentially Weathered Hazardous Rock Masses
43. Liu, W.N. (2022). Research on Dynamic Evaluation Models for the Stability of Falling Rock Masses in Slopes. [Doctoral Dissertation, University of Science and Technology Beijing].
44. Zhang, X.Y. (2023). Research on the Stability Evaluation Model of Rock Mass in Falling-Type Slope Based on Natural Frequency. [Doctoral Dissertation, University of Science and Technology Beijing].
45. Determination of effective mass for continuous contact models in multibody dynamics10.1007/s11044-022-09859-4 ↗
46. A structured review of sparse fast Fourier transform algorithms10.1016/j.dsp.2022.103403 ↗
47. A model-based generalization of the bandwidth method for damping estimation10.1007/s00419-025-02914-4 ↗
48. Accuracy of the half-power bandwidth method with a third-order correction for estimating damping in multi-DOF systems10.1007/s11803-013-0149-1 ↗
49. Structural modal parameter identification with the Power-Exponential window function10.1016/j.ymssp.2024.111771 ↗