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- Title
The Q-Slope Method for Rock Slope Engineering.
- Authors
Bar, Neil; Barton, Nick
- Abstract
Q-slope is an empirical rock slope engineering method for assessing the stability of excavated rock slopes in the field. Intended for use in reinforcement-free road or railway cuttings or in opencast mines, Q-slope allows geotechnical engineers to make potential adjustments to slope angles as rock mass conditions become apparent during construction. Through case studies across Asia, Australia, Central America, and Europe, a simple correlation between Q-slope and long-term stable slopes was established. Q-slope is designed such that it suggests stable, maintenance-free bench-face slope angles of, for instance, 40°-45°, 60°-65°, and 80°-85° with respective Q-slope values of approximately 0.1, 1.0, and 10. Q-slope was developed by supplementing the Q-system which has been extensively used for characterizing rock exposures, drill-core, and tunnels under construction for the last 40 years. The Q′ parameters (RQD, J , J , and J ) remain unchanged in Q-slope. However, a new method for applying J / J ratios to both sides of potential wedges is used, with relative orientation weightings for each side. The term J , which is now termed J , takes into account long-term exposure to various climatic and environmental conditions such as intense erosive rainfall and ice-wedging effects. Slope-relevant SRF categories for slope surface conditions, stress-strength ratios, and major discontinuities such as faults, weakness zones, or joint swarms have also been incorporated. This paper discusses the applicability of the Q-slope method to slopes ranging from less than 5 m to more than 250 m in height in both civil and mining engineering projects.
- Subjects
ROCK slopes; STABILITY (Mechanics); ENGINEERING geologists; ROCK mechanics; STRAINS &; stresses (Mechanics)
- Publication
Rock Mechanics & Rock Engineering, 2017, Vol 50, Issue 12, p3307
- ISSN
0723-2632
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1007/s00603-017-1305-0