Determination of the Stable Slope Configuration of Oval-Shaped Furrow Pits

The space effects of oval-shoped furrow pit slopes were analyzed by the elastic mechanics principle. The interaction of limit equilibrium slope angle, friction coefficient, cohesion and horizontal radius of oval-shaped furrow, pits has been derived. The oral trumpet-like rock mass is homogeneous and elastic while only loaded by its dead weight. The interaction indicates that the deeper an oral-shaped furrow pit is excavated, the greater the limit equilibrium slope angle. Both the theory base for reducing stripping waste rock in an oval- shaped furrow pit and the basic way to determine the configuration of a stable slope were developed from the mentioned interaction.The theory includes the preceding principles of stability analysis of slopes. Compared with the configuration determined by traditional theory of slope stability, a great quantity of stripping waste rock can be reduced by that determined in this paper trader stable conditions.