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An integrated geotechnical study using Q-slope method and factor of safety appraisal along NH-5 from Solan to Shimla, India

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Abstract

Slope failure is a major concern along engineered slopes in the dicey Himalayas. It is one of the leading causes of fatalities and socio-economic disturbances in the regions. For hassle-free and safer design along transportation routes, effective geotechnical solutions pertaining to slope stability appraisal are very important for the stakeholders. National Highway-5 (NH-5), an essential route heading towards Shimla, experiences numerous slope instability problems. The present study focuses on stability appraisal along a part of NH-5 from Solan to Shimla in Himachal Pradesh using the Q-slope method and factor of safety (FoS), employing the principles of kinematic analysis. Eleven vulnerable slopes were identified for the detailed geotechnical investigation. Q-slope values of studied slopes range from 0.15 to 3.28, indicating a diversified range of stability. Among the evaluated 11 slopes, six are unstable, two are marginally stable and three are stable. Safe cut slope angle without any requirement of reinforcement measures (β) is also determined for all slopes. Furthermore, Bieniawski’s RMR was also applied for estimating various rock mass parameters, including cohesion and angle of internal friction. Such parameters and other geotechnical inputs were used to calculate the factor of safety (FoS) for structurally controlled failures. A correlation between Q-slope values, FoS and orientation factor of Q-slope methods was also attempted herein. This geotechnical appraisal has provided a reasonable insight into slope instability issues along the route. It is suggested to perform such cost-effective and rapid geotechnical evaluations in likewise landslide-prone sections of the Himalayas.

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  1. Department of Geology, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, 202 002, India

    Wali Akhtar, Tariq Siddique, Pirzada Mohammad Haris, Atif Ahamad & Md Erfan Ali Mondal

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  1. Wali Akhtar
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  2. Tariq Siddique
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  3. Pirzada Mohammad Haris
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  5. Md Erfan Ali Mondal
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Contributions

All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation, data collection and analysis were performed by Wali Akhtar, Tariq Siddique, Pirzada Mohammad Haris, Atif Ahamad and MEA Mondal. The first draft of the manuscript was written by Wali Akhtar and Tariq Siddique, and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Tariq Siddique.

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Communicated by George Mathew

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Akhtar, W., Siddique, T., Haris, P.M. et al. An integrated geotechnical study using Q-slope method and factor of safety appraisal along NH-5 from Solan to Shimla, India. J Earth Syst Sci 132, 106 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12040-023-02104-2

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