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Geoengineering Evaluation of Cut Slopes Along a Landslide-Prone Road Section in the Himalayas

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Abstract

The road networks in highly rugged landscape of the Himalayas exhibit numerous sets of discontinuities within the rock mass and are prone to landslides at different scales. These roads serve as essential transportation corridors to pilgrims and tourist destinations and play a vital role in developing socioeconomic activities. In the present study, stability assessment of road cut slopes along national highway-107 (NH-107) from Rudraprayag to Gaurikund is undertaken. Vulnerable engineered rock slopes are characterized by various rock mass classification schemes, including Slope Mass Rating (SMR), Q-Slope, and Slope Stability Rating (SSR). Accordingly, safe and effective geotechnical designing of engineered slopes are envisaged. The results obtained by these methods are also correlated via a line graph. Kinematic analysis is performed to determine the probable slope failures associated with adversely oriented discontinuities. The stable excavation angle (β) without any requirement of reinforcement measures is also calculated for the 1% probability of failure. By considering the ongoing excavation for road widening, remedial measures are proposed to acquire safe geotechnical planning along the route.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are thankful to the Department of Geology, Aligarh Muslim University, India for providing instruments for the field and access to the laboratory.

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The authors declare that no funds, grants, or other support were received during the preparation of this manuscript.

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  1. Department of Geology, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, 202002, India

    Tariq Siddique, M. E. A. Mondal, Mohd Siddique Akbar, Wamiq Mohammed Khan & Mohd Shawez

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  1. Tariq Siddique
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  2. M. E. A. Mondal
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  3. Mohd Siddique Akbar
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Siddique, T., Mondal, M.E.A., Akbar, M.S. et al. Geoengineering Evaluation of Cut Slopes Along a Landslide-Prone Road Section in the Himalayas. J. Inst. Eng. India Ser. A 103, 905–919 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40030-022-00655-z

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