A Practical Classification to Sustainable Road Slope Stability Assessment, Alanya-Konya Roadway, Turkey: Case Study

Abstract

Today, a vast range of slope stability analysis tools exist for both rock and mixed rocksoil slopes. As is well known, Rock mass classification systems (RMR, SMR,GSI, Q, CSMR..etc), can be used to assess rock slope stability, hence, this paper intended to employing SMR classification, to prove that a rigorous rock mass classification will give more reliable if uncertain parameters are dropped and considered indirectly. The present study was carried out of 14 rock cuts in which 3 different causes of instability (Planer, Wedge, Toppling) along Hadim – Gevne dam segment of the Konya –Alanya roadway,this road distingueshed with existence of different lithological units. However, the cut slopes are located within recrystallized limestone, hard to extremely hard and highly jointed. In order to determine engineering geological properties of the rocks exposed along the roadway, then assess stability of the cut slopes, fourteen cut slopes were detailed identified. During field investigation all field observations/measurements parameters were recorded, which involved a detailed discontinuity surveys discontinuity conditions, geometrical relationship between slope and rock discontinuities (dips angles and slope), slope excavation methods; and underground water condition. Based on the field observations, stability analyses of the cut slopes and SMR values concluded that the slopes can be categorized into partially stable (50%), unstable (30%) and completely unstable (20%) with probable planar failure mode (20%), toppling failure mode (27%) and wedge failure mode (53%) . To ensure slope stability of road cuts against failure, flattening with different angles, sometimes constructing rock block walls may also be adopted beneficially.