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Empirical and Numerical Evaluation of a Cut Slope Near Rishikesh, India

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Proceedings of Geotechnical Challenges in Mining, Tunneling and Underground Infrastructures (ICGMTU 2021)

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering ((LNCE,volume 228))

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Abstract

The stability analysis of cut slopes along any transportation corridor is necessary to safeguard people’s and societal interests. The present work presents assessment of a steep rock cut slope near Rishikesh, along a national highway in Uttarakhand, India. The work details empirical and numerical examination of the slope stretching approximately 20 m in length along the road. The field investigation has been undertaken to ascertain discontinuities conditions, their orientations, spacing between them, geological strength index as well as slope geometries . Three joint sets were recorded with spacing of 10–120, 5–45, 6–35 cm respectively, with slope angle of 75° and slope height equal to 65 m. Moreover, the rock samples were taken in laboratory to further discern required geotechnical parameters such as unconfined compressive strength, Young’s modulus, and Poisson’s ratio etc. The empirical and numerical techniques were applied to examine the slope’s health. Q-slope and Slope Mass Rating were the employed empirical method. Besides, the finite element approach was adopted to assess the slope stability numerical. Finally, outcomes of all these scientific assessments were compared with each other and ground reality. The Q-slope values achieved was 1.58 for the concerned slope, while the SMR value was 37. Finite element simulation yielded a safety factor of 1.6 for the dry condition. Furthermore, kinematic analysis of slope shows the possibility of planar and wedge modes of failures. Keeping in view the attained results, the slope should be excavated at an angle of 69°, while also making provisions for drainage of rain water.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India

    V. H. R. Pandey & Ashutosh Kainthola

  2. Department of Earth Sciences, IIT Bombay, Mumbai, India

    T. N. Singh

Authors
  1. V. H. R. Pandey
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  2. Ashutosh Kainthola
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  3. T. N. Singh
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Correspondence to Ashutosh Kainthola .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mining Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (BHU), Varanasi, India

    Amit Kumar Verma

  2. Geotropik Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Johor Bahru, Malaysia

    Edy Tonnizam Mohamad

  3. Innovative Consultancy and Research Pte. Ltd.,, Singapore, Singapore

    Ramesh Murlidhar Bhatawdekar

  4. Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research, Nagpur, India

    Avtar Krishen Raina

  5. School of Engineering, Information Technology and Physical Sciences, Federation University, Ballarat, VIC, Australia

    Manoj Khandelwal

  6. Department of Civil Engineering, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

    Danial Armaghani

  7. Department of Geology, Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines), Dhanbad, Dhanbad, India

    Kripamoy Sarkar

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Pandey, V.H.R., Kainthola, A., Singh, T.N. (2022). Empirical and Numerical Evaluation of a Cut Slope Near Rishikesh, India. In: Verma, A.K., et al. Proceedings of Geotechnical Challenges in Mining, Tunneling and Underground Infrastructures. ICGMTU 2021. Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering, vol 228. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-9770-8_38

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