Principle of analysis of brittle-plastic rock mass

Based upon Il'yushin's postulate and the plastic potential theory, a procedure for calculating the abrupt change in stresses from the peak strength surface to the residual strength surface is proposed. The stability criterion for a brittle-plastic body loaded proportionally is presented. Finally, three examples have been solved analytically and numerically, including an engineering example of the steep rock slope of a shiplock system for the Three Gorges hydroelectric power project in China.