Numerical analysis of initiation and progressive failure in natural rock slopes—the 1991 Randa rockslide

The 1991 Randa rockslide in the Swiss Alps involved several complex mechanisms relating to geological, mechanical and hydrological processes for which no clear trigger can be asserted. This paper investigates the concept of progressive failure and the numerical modelling of rock mass strength degradation in natural rock slopes using the Randa rockslide as a working example. Results from continuum (i.e. finite-element) modelling are presented to...