Quick clay slides are quite rare but often leads to major consequences for the society. These type of slides are complex and the true causes leading to a slide is difficult to map since the evidence is destroyed during the slide. Because of this, different theories develop of the causes of the slide based on the same information. It is also problematic to back-calculate the sliding event because the commonly applied concept of perfectly plastic limite quilibrium cannot be applied on many of the landslides in quick clay. The objectives of this thesis were to construct a fault tree that facilitate risk identification and risk analysis of quick clay slides and to evaluate the applicability of the constructed fault tree, especially in the feasibility study and design phase. Uncertainties within the subject require a careful approach when dealing with quick clay. An implementation of a fault tree for quick clay slides in a risk management could reduce the risk of a slide and better understand the phenomenon. Two case studies were approached with the created fault tree and two advanced calculation methods that account for the special behaviour of quickclay. The use of a qualitative fault tree analysis in combination with calculation methods enables an evaluation of isolated singular events that in the end can lead to a quick clay slide. With the possibility to study isolated events, the implementation of more advanced calculation methods may be facilitated in an early stage to predict and prevent quick clay slides. / Kvicklerskred är sällsynta men leder ofta till stor skada för samhället. Dessa skred är komplexa och orsaken till utlösandet av skredet är svårt att identifiera då bevisen förstörs under händelseförloppet. Detta leder till att olika teorier om orsaken av kvicklerskred kan variera från samma information. Det är också svårt att beräkna skredets omlopp i efterhand den vanliga beräkningsmetoden baseras på idealplastiska samband, något som inte går att applicera på kvicklera. Målet med denna studie var att konstruera ett felträd som underlättar riskidentifiering och riskanalyser av kvicklerskred. Målet var även att utvärdera användandet av felträdet i en byggnadsprocess, framförallt under förstudien och under projekteringsskedet. Osäkerheter inom området kräver en försiktig arbetsmetod när kvicklera finns i områden. Att använda sig av ett felträd för kvicklerskred i en riskhantering skulle kunna minska risken för ett skred och samtidigt öka systemförståelsen över fenomenet. Två fallstudier gjordes med det konstruerade felträdet, under dessa fältstudier gjordes även beräkningar med två avancerade beräkningsmetoder som tar hänsyn till det töjningsmjukande beteendet hos kvicklera. Användningav ett kvalitativt felträd i kombination med beräkningsmetoder möjligör en utvärdering av isolerade händelser som i slutändan kan leda till ett kvicklerskred. Möjligheten av att studera isolerade händelser kan underlätta en implementering av mer avancerade beräkningsmetoder i ett tidigt skede och på så vis förutse och förhindra kvicklerskred.

As hard rock mining progresses into higher stress mining conditions through either late stage extraction or mining at depth, the rock mass is driven not just to the peak strength, but often well into the post-peak until complete ‘failure’ occurs and easier mining conditions become evident. Limited research has been accomplished in identifying the transition of the rock mass and its behaviour into the post-peak and this research investigates this behaviour in detail. As the rock mass progressively fails, fractures are initiated through intact rock and extension and shear failure of these and pre-existing features occurs. Associated with this failure are microseismic events, which can be used to give an indication of the strength state of the rock mass. Based on an analogy to laboratory testing of intact rock and measurement of acoustic emissions, the microseismicity can be used to identify, fracture initiation, coalescence of fractures (yield), localization (peak-strength), accumulation of damage (post-peak) and ultimate failure (residual strength) leading to aseismic behaviour. The case studies presented in this thesis provide an opportunity to examine and analyse rock mass failure into the post-peak, through the regional and confined failures at the Williams and the Golden Giant mines, both in the Hemlo camp in Northern Ontario, Canada. At the Williams mine, the progressive failure of a sill pillar region into the post-peak was analysed; relating the seismic event density, combined with numerical modelling and a spatial and temporal examination of the principal components analysis (PCA), to characterize the extent, trend and state of the yielding zone, which formed a macrofracture shear structure. Observations of conventional displacement instrumentation, indicates regional dilation or shear of the rock mass occurs at or prior to the point of ‘disassociation’ (breakdown of stable PCA trends) when approaching the residual strength. At the Golden Giant mine, the complete process from initiation to aseismic behaviour is monitored in a highly stressed and confined pendent pillar. The PCA technique, numerical modelling and focal mechanism studies are used to define significant stages of the failure process, in which a similar macrofracture structure was formed. Temporal observations of key source parameters show significant changes prior to and at the point of coalescence and localization.

As hard rock mining progresses into higher stress mining conditions through either late stage extraction or mining at depth, the rock mass is driven not just to the peak strength, but often well into the post-peak until complete ‘failure’ occurs and easier mining conditions become evident. Limited research has been accomplished in identifying the transition of the rock mass and its behaviour into the post-peak and this research investigates this behaviour in detail. As the rock mass progressively fails, fractures are initiated through intact rock and extension and shear failure of these and pre-existing features occurs. Associated with this failure are microseismic events, which can be used to give an indication of the strength state of the rock mass. Based on an analogy to laboratory testing of intact rock and measurement of acoustic emissions, the microseismicity can be used to identify, fracture initiation, coalescence of fractures (yield), localization (peak-strength), accumulation of damage (post-peak) and ultimate failure (residual strength) leading to aseismic behaviour. The case studies presented in this thesis provide an opportunity to examine and analyse rock mass failure into the post-peak, through the regional and confined failures at the Williams and the Golden Giant mines, both in the Hemlo camp in Northern Ontario, Canada. At the Williams mine, the progressive failure of a sill pillar region into the post-peak was analysed; relating the seismic event density, combined with numerical modelling and a spatial and temporal examination of the principal components analysis (PCA), to characterize the extent, trend and state of the yielding zone, which formed a macrofracture shear structure. Observations of conventional displacement instrumentation, indicates regional dilation or shear of the rock mass occurs at or prior to the point of ‘disassociation’ (breakdown of stable PCA trends) when approaching the residual strength. At the Golden Giant mine, the complete process from initiation to aseismic behaviour is monitored in a highly stressed and confined pendent pillar. The PCA technique, numerical modelling and focal mechanism studies are used to define significant stages of the failure process, in which a similar macrofracture structure was formed. Temporal observations of key source parameters show significant changes prior to and at the point of coalescence and localization.