Bostanci, Hasan Tahsin; Alemdag, Selcuk; Gurocak, Zulfu; Gokceoglu, Candan

Geographical Information Systems (GIS) have a very large spectrum of users. As in many engineering applications, GIS are frequently used in geotechnical projects, especially in producing various thematic and zoning maps such as various susceptibility and hazard maps. Instability maps for large areas with similar characteristic can be produced in a practical way by evaluating the results obtained by the data collected from field and laboratory studies. In order to introduce a methodology for producing rock slope instability maps for a large area, discontinuity controlled slope failures in the Köse Granitoid Complex (NE Turkey) were selected. To determine the types of failure such as planar, wedge, and toppling, and possible instable slope orientations kinematic analyses were carried out in the limited areas. The relationships between orientations of natural slopes and discontinuities obtained from kinematic analyses were evaluated with GIS software. Finally, discontinuity controlled instability maps were produced for the study area. Resulting maps show that the most common type of failure is wedge type. Additionally, the distributions of unstable areas along road networks were determined. Various land use types such as agriculture, grassland, settlement, and forest were also classified in order to predict the possible effects of slope instabilities. The methodology introduced in this study indicates highly promising results for the assessment of rock slope instability in large areas.

Alemdag, Selcuk; Gurocak, Zulfu; Gokceoglu, Candan

Rock mass characterization has a crucial importance in rock engineering applications including foundation design, slope design, support design and others. For these purposes, it is necessary to determine some input parameters for design, such as deformation modulus (Em), uniaxial compressive strength (σci) and Poisson ratio (υ). The Em is an important input parameter and the practical and economical way to determine this parameter is to apply a rock mass classification system and estimate using the rock mass properties. Data from four different sites were used in the study. The values of Em were calculated using the existing empirical equations based on the Rock Mass Rating (RMR89) system. Furthermore, pressuremeter tests were carried out to determine the Em in one of the sites. The relationship between the RMR89 and the Em was obtained via simple regression analysis using the Em calculated from empirical equations based on RMR89 system. Afterwards, performance of the equation obtained from regression analyses was examined and compared the predicted Em values with experimental values with respect to the R2 values using the data of fourth site. Overall R2 value was found to be as 0.75.