Assessing slope failure in coal mining using kinematic analysis

Abstract

Abstract Slope stability analysis is one of the important issues in open-pit mining. It is directly influences mining operation and cost. It also becomes a primary need to prevent slope failures that disturbing production activity. Failures in slope are controlled by factors such as slope dimension, geological structures, physical and mechanical properties of slope material, and the external forces acting on the slope. This paper presents the study results on the prediction of slope stability analysis by using kinematic analysis. The study was conducted to predict the potential slope failures that could occur at the selected mine site. The site was chosen on one of the locations of open pit coal mining PT. X in East Kalimantan. Some observation points are determined to show types of failure that can occur, such as plane and wedge failure. The results show that the potential failure of the planar type occurs in 8 locations while the wedge failure occurs in 7 locations. The potential failure occur in 5 observation points, i.e: Pit-1/OP-1, Pit-2/OP-1, Pit-3/OP-1, Pit-5/OP-1, Pit-5/OP-3. Other points are in stable condition because the plane’s direction is opposite the slope direction.