Base friction testing methodology for the deformation of rock masses caused by mining in an open-pit slope

•Base friction tests prove that the damage pattern of mining in an open-pit slope is different from that of mining without an open-pit slope, exhibiting the characteristics of the stages.•Image-based measurement techniques (DIC and PIV) can solve the problem of deformation measurements during base friction testing.•The entire displacement and velocity vector distributions (from deformation to damage) within mining in an open-pit slope model can be obtained and converted into visualized data. Mining in an open-pit slope results in the deformation and instability of rock masses. Correspondingly, it is difficult to quantify the range of internal rock mass damage completely. In this study, a base friction testing method is proposed for the analysis of mining models in an open-pit slope, and new methodology is proposed which combines digital image correlation (DIC) and particle image velocimetry (PIV) techniques to analyze the entire deformation process. A series of base friction tests is performed to reveal the deformation mechanism of the mining model in an open-pit slope, and findings are compared with those obtained from a mining model without an open-pit slope. The test results showed two different types of damage: staged parabolic-like and progressive trapezoidal-like damages. Moreover, the proposed methodology can obtain the entire displacement and velocity vector distributions (from deformation to damage) inside the slope and convert it into data for visualization. This provides a reference for the evaluation and control of field open-pit slopes in similar conditions.