An empirical method for slope mass rating-Qslope correlation for Isfahan province, Iran

Mohammad Azarafza; Shahrzad Nikoobakht; Jafar Rahnamarad; Fariba Asasi; Reza Derakhshani

doi:10.1016/j.mex.2020.101069

An empirical method for slope mass rating-Q_slope correlation for Isfahan province, Iran

MethodsX. 2020 Sep 19:7:101069. doi: 10.1016/j.mex.2020.101069. eCollection 2020.

Authors

Mohammad Azarafza¹, Shahrzad Nikoobakht², Jafar Rahnamarad³, Fariba Asasi⁴, Reza Derakhshani^{5

6}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Civil Engineering, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey.
² Department of Geology, Yazd University, Yazd, Iran.
³ Department of Geology, Zahedan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Zahedan, Iran.
⁴ Department of Mining Engineering, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran.
⁵ Department of Geology, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran.
⁶ Department of Earth Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands.

Abstract

The presented article provides an empirical method on rock slope classification, slope mass rating (SMR), Q_slope, stability condition, failure type and stabilisation procedures for 35 road/railway discontinuous rock slopes after field surveys in Isfahan Province of Iran. Also, it presents the empirical correlation for SMR and Q_slope classification system that prepares a link between the stability status (safety factor, reliability condition) and stabilisations (failure mechanism, support system) which performed on natural/trench slopes cases related sedimentary rocks cuts in the studied region. As results, the SMR-Q_slope equation for Isfahan Province obtained as SMR = 11.89 ln(Q_slope) + 71.92 (R² = 0.756). • This method can be useful on a stability assessment and providing appropriate stabilisations for the discontinuous rock slope based on simple assumptions where used in different geotechnical projects such as road/railway slope, excavations, open-pit mining, trench boring, etc. • This method can be useful for quick calculation of stability conditions and suggestion of slope maintenance system in a short time as preliminary reactions. • This method can be used as an effective way to convert SMR and Q_slope equations and used both benefits in geo-engineering application faced with discontinuous rock masses. • This method can be useful for future research on the empirical geomechanically classification and rock mass preliminary quantifications. • This method can be used as an appropriate database for SMR and Q_slope classification.

Keywords: Empirical relationship; Geomechanical classification; Qslope; Rock slope classification; Rock slope engineering; Slope mass rating, SMR; Slope stability.