Terminology

Before you begin exploring the many features in the program, it is helpful to distinguish commonly used terminology within the help system to ensure the available resources are clear.

Analysis Method

Analysis Methods are the three different models that can be created in RocSlope2, each displayed in its own window. By default, all three analyses (Wedge, Planar, and Toppling) are calculated in a RocSlope2 project. A user can define which Analysis Methods are included in their project using the Analysis settings.

Analysis Type

Analysis Types in RocSlope2 are the two analysis options a user can choose between in the Statistics settings. This setting determines the way that results are calculated for the enabled models, either Deterministically or Probabilistically.

Active Window

The active window is the selected Analysis Window or model that dictates which results are displayed in the Results Grid, as well as what functionality is available to the user. To learn more about changing the active window, see the Analysis Windows topic.

Blocks

The orientation and extents of joints dictate possible joint intersections and formation of blocks. How and if joints intersect will determine if a block can form in a Wedge, Planar, or Toppling analysis. The term "block" refers to a valid formation in any of the three analyses. For more information on geometry validation, see the Compute topic.

Wedges

Wedges are defined by two (or three) intersecting discontinuity planes, the slope surface and an optional tension crack. The term "wedge" is inclusive of blocks where sliding occurs on a plane that strikes approximately parallel to the strike of the slope face.

Joints

Although the program input dialogs refer to the discontinuities as "joints," this is for the purpose of simplifying the terminology. The actual discontinuities in your slope model can be any type of planar discontinuity due to bedding, faults, joints, schistosity, etc., as long as the discontinuity strength and geometry can be modeled using the provided input.

Pressure Loading

​Pressure Loading in RocSlope2 refers to a distributed pressure that is applied to the slope face and/or upper face. The pressure may represent:

• Support pressure (for example, rock bolts applied to the slope face)
• Loading pressure (for example, a distributed surcharge load on the upper face)

Point Loading

​Point Loading in RocSlope2 refers to an external load that is applied to the block by entering the trend, plunge, and magnitude of each force.