Ke Zhang is an associate professor/Ph. D. supervisor of the Faculty of Electric Power Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology. His main research fields are rock fracture mechanics, slope stability, advances numerical methods in engineering. In 2015, he graduated from Central South University. In 2016,he received "Excellent Doctoral Dissertation Award" of the Chinese Society for Rock Mechanics and Engineering, and was involved in the "Young Elite Scientist Sponsorship Program" of the Chinese Society for Rock Mechanics and Engineering. In 2019, he was a recipient of the Natural Science Foundation for Excellent Young Scholars of Yunnan Province. Until 2020, he has published about 50 research papers,including 7 important papers published in Landslides, Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering, Acta Geotechnica and Engineering Fracture Mechanics.

Preface
List of Figures
List of Tables
Chapter 1 Introduction
1.1 Background
1.2 Crack Propagation and Coalescence in Rocks
1.3 Numerical Methods of Rock Slope Stability Analysis
1.4 Main Contents in This Book
References
Part I Experimental Studies on Shear Failure Mechanism of Rock Masses
Chapter 2 Influence of Flaw Inclination on Shear Fracturing and Fractal
Behavior
2.1 Experimental Studies
2.2 Patterns of Crack Propagation and Coalescence
2.3 Peak Shear Strength of Flawed Specimens
2.4 Fractal Characteristics of the Fragmentation
2.5 Conclusions
References
Chapter 3 Influence of Flaw Density on the Shear Fracturing and Fractal
Behavior
3.1 Experimental Studies
3.2 Numerical Shear- Box Tests with the RFPA Model
3.3 Shear Fracturing Behavior of Rock Bridges
3.4 Fractal Characteristics of the Shear Fracture Surface
3.5 Conclusions
References
Part II Large-Scale, Global Failure Mechanism and Stability Analysis
Chapter 4 Empirical Methods for Estimating Strength Parameters of
Jointed Rock Masses
4.1 Methods Relating Strength with RQD
4.2 Methods Relating Strength with Q
4.3 Methods Relating Strength with RMR
4.4 Methods Relating Strength with HeeL-Brown Failure Criterion and GSI
References
Chapter 5 Kinematical Element Method
5.1 Kinematical Element Formulation Sub)ected to Seismic Loading and
Water
5.2 Numerical Studies and Verification
5.3 Blasting Effect on Slope Stability and Example Analysis
5.4 Seismic Stability Charts for Slopes
5.5 Rigorous Back Analysis
5.6 Reliability Analysis
5.7 Conclusions
References
Chapter 6 Integrated Karst Cave Stochastic Model-Limit Equilibrium
Method
6.1 Engineering Background
6.2 A Monte Carlo Simulation to Generate a Karst Cave Stochastic Model
6.3 Integrated Methodology for Stability Analysis
6.4 Optimization Design of the Slope Angle
6.5 Conclusions
References
Chapter 7 Strain-Softening Behavior and Strength Reduction Method
7.1 Progressive Failure and Improved Strength Reduction Method
7.2 Numerical Study and Verification
7.3 Progressive Failure Analysis
7.4 Parameters Analysis
7.5 Application
7.6 Conclusions
References
Chapter 8 Three-Dimensional Effect and Strength Reduction Method
8.1 Three-Dimensional Effect of Boundary Conditions
8.2 Three-Dimensional Effect of Strength Parameters
8.3 Stability Charts for Three-Dimensional Slope
8.4 Three-Dimensional Effect of Concentrated Surcharge Load
8.5 Calculation Procedure for Slope Stability Analysis
8.6 Conclusions
References
Part III Structurally-Controlled Failure Mechanism and Stability Analysis
Chapter 9 Discontinuity Kinematical Element Method
9.1 Discontinuity Kinematical Element Formulation with Major Geological
Discontinuities
9.2 Numerical Studies and Verification
9.3 Rock Slope with Non-Persistent Discontinuities
9.4 Application
9.5 Conclusions
References
Chapter 10 Joint Element and Strength Reduction Method
10.1 Engineering Background
10.2 Discontinuity Modelling in DDM
10.3 Modelling of Failure Initiation
10.4 Discontinuity Modelling in FLAC 3D
10.5 Modelling of Progressive Failure
10.6 Role of Joint Inclination on Slope Stability
10.7 Conclusions
References
Chapter 11 Fracture Mechanics Method
11.1 Engineenng Background
11.2 Theoretical Formulation
11.3 Modelling Fracture Behavior
11.4 Role of Joint Geometry Parameters on Slope Stability
11.5 Evolution of Slopes Subject to Weathering
11.6 Conclusions
References

围绕复杂地质环境下高岩质边坡安全控制问题，根据岩质边坡失稳破坏模式，本书将坡体结构划分为碎裂结构以及结构面控制型。综合运用岩体力学、弹塑性力学、断裂力学以及分形理论等多学科理论，遵循“地质概化、理论建模、试验验证、数值模拟、工程应用”的研究路线，依托我国露天矿、路堑以及库区高陡边坡工程，开展复杂地质环境下岩质边坡破坏机理的基础研究，揭示了不同坡体结构的岩质边坡变形与稳定性动态演化特征，构建了针对不同坡体结构的岩质边坡性能综合评价指标体系与评估方法。本书系统介绍了作者近年来在复杂地质环境下岩质边坡破坏机理及稳定性研究方面所取得的学术成果。