Stability assessment and mitigation of vulnerable slopes utilizing kinematic analysis and slope mass rating approach along Basohli-Bani Road, Kathua District, Jammu and Kashmir

Shifali Chib; Yudhbir Singh

doi:10.51710/jias.v41iI.336

Authors

Shifali Chib Research scholar
Yudhbir Singh

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51710/jias.v41iI.336

Keywords:

Stability assessment, RMR, SMR, kinematic analysis, mitigation.

Abstract

Slope instability issues have a significant impact on the community's and surrounding area's socio-economic development. The current study examined the stability of sensitive rock-cut slopes in the Basohli-Bani region of Kathua district using geotechnical investigations. The study region is located in the Outer and Lesser Himalayan tectonic zones in the northwestern Himalaya. The current study's purpose was to determine the slope's stability status so that rapid mitigating measures could be recommended to avoid population losses and inconveniences. The stability assessment was conducted using rock mass characterization techniques for slope stability evaluation, such as Slope Mass Rating (SMR) classification system. Kinematic analysis was also employed to look at the various mechanisms of structurally controlled failures in jointed rock masses. The input data for the slope stability assessment was gathered through extensive fieldwork and stereonet plotting. The wedge mode of failure is the most prevalent mode, as demonstrated by kinematic analysis of the structural discontinuities. A total of thirty-two land sliding locations were considered for the cut slope stability evaluations. The SMR results show that sixteen of the thirty-two vulnerable locations are unstable, seven are completely unstable, eight are partially stable, one is stable, and none is completely stable. Site-specific mitigation strategies have been recommended for rock cut slopes that are partially stable, unstable, or completely unstable. These measures also help to mitigate the socio-economic repercussions. This study will aid ministry of road transport and highways even more because numerous civil engineering projects are now ongoing and several new ones are in the planning phases in the study area.

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