Wedge Settings
RocSlope2 allows you to model two different general types of Block Shape. The Block Shape option is selected in the Wedge Settings tab of the Project Settings dialog.
To access the Wedge settings:
- Select Home > Analysis > Project Settings
- The Project Settings dialog will open. Select Wedge Settings
from the left menu to edit the settings.
The two Block Shape options are:
- Wedge - the Wedge option allows you to model a tetrahedral (4-sided) wedge formed by two joint planes and the slope surface.
- Basal Joint - the Basal Joint option allows you to include a third joint plane in the analysis, such that a pentahedral (5-sided) wedge is formed.
Wedge
The Wedge block shape generates tetrahedral (4-sided) wedges formed by two intersecting joint and the slope surface.
Basal Joint
The Basal Joint block shape allows you to include a third sliding joint in the analysis, referred to as the Basal Joint, which intersects Joint 1 and Joint 2 such that the wedge can slide along the basal joint. This generates pentahedral (5-sided) wedges by the intersection of the 3 joint planes with the slope surface.
In addition to the simple example illustrated in the above figure, the Basal Joint option can generate a much wider variety of wedge shapes (compared to the tetrahedral Wedge block shape option).
One variety of basal joint wedge type is referred to as a Socket Wedge, described below.
Basal Joint Socket Wedges
When a Basal Joint is included in the RocSlope2 analysis, it is possible to generate removable sliding wedges which do not intersect the crest of the slope. These are referred to as Socket Wedges, as they fit into an enclosed "socket" within the slope (but can still slide out of the socket).
If the Include Socket Wedges option is enabled, socket wedges generated by the basal joint analysis are considered valid wedges and will be included in analysis results. Otherwise, socket wedges are not included in the analysis. Which results in any computed socket wedges being reduced in size until one edge intersects the crest of the slope, at which point the wedge is no longer a fully enclosed socket wedge, but daylights at the crest.