Introduction

The Hoek-Brown criterion is an empirical relationship that is used to estimate the strength of rock in terms of major and minor principal stresses. In its Generalized form, the input strength parameters of the Hoek-Brown model are UCS Intact, mb, s, and a. In practice, it is common to calculate mb, s, and a from mi, GSI, and D. Details of the Hoek-Brown model are presented in the SLOPE/W Engineering book. The objective of this example is to demonstrate the use of the Hoek-Brown material model in SLOPE/W.