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© 2016 Taylor & Francis Group, London, ISBN 978-1-138-03265-1
N. Bar
Gecko Geotechnics Pty Ltd, Cairns, Australia
N.R. Barton
Nick Barton & Associates, Oslo, Norway
C.A. Ryan
Gecko Geotechnics Pty Ltd, Cairns, Australia
ABSTRACT: The Q-slope method was developed to allow geotechnical engineers to assess the stability of
excavated rock slopes in the field and make potential adjustments to slope angles as rock mass conditions
become visible during construction. Q-slope was developed over the last decade by modifying the Q-system
for characterizing rock exposures and drill-core, and estimating single-shell support and reinforcement needs in
tunnels, caverns and mining roadways. Assessing slope stability in highly weathered rocks and saprolites (in-situ,
soft, friable, weathered rock that retains the original rock’s structure but with a lower bulk density) is considered
complex since failure mechanisms often involve a combination of shearing and rotational sliding through a
weak rock mass, and sliding on relic geologic structures. Q-slope was applied to several highly weathered and
saprolitic slopes in Far North Queensland and has shown that a simple correlation exists between Q-slope values
and long-term stable and unsupported slope angles.
585
Table 1. Rock quality designation. Table 3. Joint roughness number.
Rock Quality Designation Description RQD (%)* Joint Roughness Number Description Jr
Joint Set Number Description Jn i) Descriptions refer to small-scale features and intermediate
scale features, in that order.
A Massive, no or few joints 0.5-1 ii) Add 1.0 if mean spacing of the relevant joint set is greater
B One joint set 2 than 3 m.
C One joint set plus random joints 3 iii) Jr = 0.5 can be used for planar, slickensided joints having
D Two joint sets 4 lineations, provided the lineations are oriented for minimum
E Two joint sets plus random joints 6 strength.
F Three joint sets 9 iv) Jr and Ja classification is applied to the joint set or dis-
G Three joint sets plus random joints 12 continuity that is least favorable for stability both from the
H Four or more joint sets, random, 15 point of view of orientation and shear resistance τ, where
heavily jointed τ ≈ σn tan−1 (Jr /Ja ).
J Crushed rock, earthlike 20
(~:1C;
O-factor=0.75. Table 7 describes strength reduction factors (SRFa )
for the physical condition of the slope surface (now
5 x0.75) (2) or expected) due to susceptibility to weathering and
= = 0.5625
erosion.
Table 8 describes strength reduction factors (SRFb )
Equation 3 provides an example of O-factor for adverse stress-strength ranges in the slope.
application to wedges formed by two discontinuity Table 9 describes strength reduction factors (SRFc )
sets (Set A & Set B) which influence stability: for major discontinuities such as faults, weakness
• Set A: Jr = 1.5, Ja = 2 is dominant & very unfavor- zones and joint swarms which may also contain clay
able, O-factor = 0.5. filling that adversely affects slope stability.
586
Table 4. Joint alteration number. Table 6. Environmental and geological condition number.
b) Rock-wall contact after some shearing (thin clay fillings, Jwice × 1.3
probable thickness ≈ 1–5 mm) When drainage and reinforcement are installed, apply both
F Sandy particles, clay-free disintegrated 4.0 factors Jwice × 1.5 × 1.3.
rock, etc.
G Strongly over-consolidated non-softening 6.0
clay mineral fillings. Table 7. SRFa : Physical condition.
H Medium or low over-consolidation, 8.0
softening, clay mineral fillings. Description SRFa
J Swelling-clay fillings, i.e. montmorillonite. 8–12
value of Ja depends on per cent of swelling A Slight loosening due to surface location 2.5
clay-size particles, and access to water. B Loose blocks, signs of tension cracks & joint 5
c) No rock-wall contact when sheared (thick clay/crushed shearing, susceptibility to weathering
rock fillings) C As B, but strong susceptibility to weathering 10
M Zones or bands of disintegrated or crushed 6, 8, D Slope is in advanced stage of erosion and 15
rock and clay (see G, H, J for description 8–12 loosening due to periodic water erosion and/or
of clay condition). ice-wedging effects
N Zones of bands of silty- or sandy-clay, small 5.0 E Residual slope with significant transport of 20
clay fraction (non-softening). material down-slope
OPR Thick, continuous zones or bands of clay 10, 13,
(see G, H, J for description of clay 13–20
condition).
Table 8. SRFb : Stress and strength.
587
Table 9. SRFc : Major discontinuity. 2.2 Engineering challenges
Description* SRFc Designing slopes in saprolites and highly weathered
rock present engineering challenges since:
L Major discontinuity with little or no clay, and • Shearing & rotational sliding can occur in low
orientation is:
strength, weathered rock masses.
1. favorable 1
• Sliding (planar and wedge) can occur along relic
2. unfavorable 2
3. very unfavorable 4 geologic structures, which may be very inconspicu-
4. causing failure if unsupported 8 ous, within the saprolites or highly weathered rock
M Major discontinuity with RQD100 = 0 due to masses.
clay and crushed rock, and orientation is:
1. favorable 2 Modes of instability in saprolitic or highly weath-
2. unfavorable 4 ered rock slopes often occur as a combination of
3. very unfavorable 8 shearing and rotational sliding in weak material with
4. causing failure if unsupported 16 sliding along relic geologic structures.
N Major discontinuity with RQD300 = 0 due to The aforementioned modes of instability, whether
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clay and crushed rock, and orientation is: simple or complex, are frequently exacerbated by
1. favorable 4 environmental effects such as rainfall.
2. unfavorable 8
3. very unfavorable 12
4. causing failure if unsupported 24
3 Q-SLOPE APPLICATION
*Note: RQD100 = 1 meter perpendicular sample of disconti-
nuity. The Q-slope method was applied to several road
RQD300 = 3 meter perpendicular sample of discontinuity. cuttings, mine access roads and subdivisional earth-
works cuttings in hilly terrain throughout Far North
Queensland. These ranged from 5 m to 30 m in height.
Various rock types were encountered and included
low-grade metamorphics, intrusive igneous and sed-
imentary rocks (greywacke, phyllite, shale, gran-
ite, conglomerates, sandstones, and siltstones). These
were typically of low strength (intact material strength
less than about 25 MPa) as a result of near-surface
weathering effects. Saprolites of the aforementioned
rock types were also commonly encountered (very low
strength <5 MPa).
Figure 2 presents the slope-angle and rock mass
quality data from several saprolitic and highly weath-
ered slopes in Far North Queensland. Each have been
back-analyzed using Q-slope:
• Green triangles – stable slopes
Figure 1. Q-slope stability chart for slope heights less than
30 m (adapted from Barton & Bar 2015). • Squares – quasi-stable slopes (note: the two quasi-
stable slopes in Figure 2 were rehabilitated by
flattening the slope angle prior to their collapse)
erosion and to allow leaching of the products of chem- • Red crosses – failed / collapsed slopes which have
ical weathering, long periods of tectonic stability and a
been back analyzed.
humid tropical to temperate climate (Butt et al. 2000).
Far North Queensland in Australia is host to sapro- It was found that Equation 4 (Barton & Bar 2015)
lites and highly weathered rocks from the bauxite remains applicable for saprolitic and highly weath-
deposits near Weipa to road cuttings and residential ered slopes not requiring reinforcement or support, and
properties located on the hillsides in the greater Cairns when less than 30 m high.
region (i.e. Cairns, Babinda, the Atherton tablelands
and the Daintree rainforest). 3.1 Example of saprolitic phyllite slope in a
In the greater Cairns region, saprolites of, and residential subdivision
highly weathered rocks, include granites, basalts,
greywacke and low grade metamorphic rocks, such Residential subdivision earthworks cuttings in Far
as shales and phyllite, are frequently encountered near North Queensland often comprise saprolites since
the surface. According to Murtha et al. (1995), the excavations are usually relatively shallow. Figure 3
thickness of deeply weathered saprolite is usually in is an example of such a slope excavated 5 m high
the order of 5 m in the region. However, the sapro- at an angle of 40◦ without any form of geotechnical
lite generally overlies highly weathered rocks with investigation or design.
only marginally improved geomechanical properties The slope comprised 0.3 m topsoil at the surface
for tens of meters thereafter. with the remainder being very low strength saprolitic
588
Q,,. ,. • Saprolitic & Highly Weathered Rock Slopes in Far North Queensland
(Slope Heights smaller than 30m)
90
80
Unstable slopes
70
.,;
0c 40
..
<(
c.
0 30 Stable slopes
iii
~ = 2 01og 10 (0 ,~,.) + 65
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20
Slope stability
uncertain
10
0
0.001 0.01 0 .1 10 100
Q-slope
Figure 2. Q-slope data for highly weathered and saprolitic slopes in Far North Queensland (slope heights less than 30 m).
589
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Figure 4. Left: 10 year old quasi-stable slope (22 m high); Right: Slope shortly after rehabilitation work, Cape Flattery FNQ.
to assessing fresh rock slopes. However, it has been Q-slope enables geotechnical engineers to rapidly
found that certain aspects of the equation become more assess the stability of excavated slopes in the field,
prevalent. identify potentially unstable areas, and areas which
In strong or competent rocks, stability is usually may be steepened if required.
dictated by geologic structures. In weak or incom-
petent rocks, the rock mass, geologic structure or a
combination of both, may influence stability. The Jwice REFERENCES
description for saprolites in Far North Queensland
has solely been ‘incompetent rock’. Highly weathered Barton, N.R. & Bar, N. 2015. Introducing the Q-slope method
and its intended use within civil and mining engineering
rocks, have been described either as ‘incompetent’ or
projects. In Schubert & Kluckner (ed.), Future Develop-
‘competent’ depending on estimations of the intact ment of Rock Mechanics; Proc. ISRM reg. symp. EUROCK
material strength. 2015 & 64th Geomechanics Colloquium, Salzburg, 7–10
When dealing with lower strength rocks and sapro- October 2015: 157–162.
lites, the appropriate use of strength reduction for Barton, N.R. & Grimstad, E. 2014. An illustrated guide to
adverse stress-strength (SRFb ) becomes ever more the Q-system following 40 years use in tunneling. In-
vital. By way of example, the saprolitic phyllite slope house publisher: Oslo. Retrieved October 30, 2015 from
in the residential subdivision was 5 m high, required www.nickbarton.com.
a SRFb of 7, and had a Q-slope of 0.36 (β = 56◦ ). Barton, N.R., Lien, R. & Lunde, J. 1974. Engineering classi-
fication of rock masses for the design of tunnel support.
If the same slope were to be 15 m high, it would
Rock Mechanics, 6: 189–236.
require a SRFb of 15, and attain a Q-slope of 0.17 Butt, C.R.M., Lintern, M.J. & Anand, R.R. 2000. Evolution
(β = 49◦ ). However, if the slope was of strong, fresh of regoliths and landscapes in deeply weathered terrain –
rock (intact material strength of 100 MPa), a SRFb of implications for geochemical exploration. Ore Geology
1 would be required whether the slope was 5 m or 15 m Reviews, 16: 167–183.
high. Appropriately estimating in-situ stress are vitally Murtha, G.G., Cannon, M.G. & Smith, C.D. 1995. Soils of the
important when using Q-slope in weak materials such Babinda-Cairns area, North Queensland, CSIRO Division
as saprolites and highly weathered rocks. of Soils, Rpt. 123, Australia, CSIRO.
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