Planar Analysis Settings

RocSlope2 allows users to edit the Sliding Joint Lateral Limits for a Planar Analysis using the Define Joint Orientations dialog. By default, the Lateral Limit is set to 20°.

Lateral Limits

Planar failure tends to occur only if the dip direction of a plane is within a certain angular range of the slope face dip direction. Typically a value of 20° to 30° is used based on empirical observations (Goodman 1980, Hudson and Harrison 1997).

The lateral limits define two straight lines through the center of the stereonet, at plus/minus the specified angle from the slope dip direction. The lateral limits add a further restriction to the critical zone for Planar Sliding (poles or dip vectors must be within the lateral limits in order to slide).