Techno Press
You logged in as. Techno Press

Geomechanics and Engineering
  Volume 13, Number 4, October 2017 , pages 571-584
DOI: https://doi.org/10.12989/gae.2017.13.4.571
 


Assessment of rock slope stability by slope mass rating (SMR):A case study for the gas flare site in Assalouyeh, South of Iran
Mohammad Azarafza, Haluk Akgün and Ebrahim Asghari-Kaljahi

 
Abstract
    Slope mass rating (SMR) is commonly used for the geomechanical classification of rock masses in an attempt to evaluate the stability of slopes. SMR is calculated from the RMR89-basic (basic rock mass rating) and from the characteristic features of discontinuities, and may be applied to slope stability analysis as well as to slope support recommendations. This study attempts to utilize the SMR classification system for slope stability analysis and to investigate the engineering geological conditions of the slopes and the slope stability analysis of the Gas Flare site in phases 6, 7 and 8 of the South Pars Gas Complex in Assalouyeh, south of Iran. After studying a total of twelve slopes, the results of the SMR classification system indicated that three slope failure modes, namely, wedge, plane and mass failure were possible along the slopes. In addition, the stability analyses conducted by a number of computer programs indicated that three of the slopes were stable, three of the slopes were unstable and the remaining six slopes were categorized as \'needs attention\' classes.
 
Key Words
    geomechanics; slope mass rating (SMR); rock mass rating (RMR); Assalouyeh
 
Address
Mohammad Azarafza: Department of Geology, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran
Haluk Akgün: Department of Geological Engineering, Geotechnology Unit, Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey
Ebrahim Asghari-Kaljahi: Department of Earth Sciences, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran
 

Techno-Press: Publishers of international journals and conference proceedings.       Copyright © 2025 Techno Press
P.O. Box 33, Yuseong, Daejeon 305-600 Korea, Tel: +82-42-828-7996, Fax : +82-42-828-7997, Email: admin@techno-press.com