Breakdown mechanisms and morphology for man-made rockslopes in North West England

Deterioration of excavated rockslopes occurs in engineering time. It can create a serious safety hazard and has significant resource implications. This paper presents results from a field investigation of more than 100 deteriorating rockslopes in the North West of England. Deterioration is found to be widespread but its nature and consequences vary considerably, notably in relation to rock mass structure and material properties. Deterioration can be characterised on the basis of morphology, mechanisms and relationship to the mass structure and these are used to form the basis of a new rock mass classification.

[1]  D. G. Moye.  Engineering geology for the Snowy Mountains scheme , 1955 .

[2]  Evert Hoek.  Methods for the rapid assessment of the stability of three-dimensional rock slopes , 1973, Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology.

[3]  T. Nichols.  Rebound, its nature and effect on engineering works , 1980, Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology.

[4]  J. N. Hutchinson.  General report: morphological and geotechnical parameters of landslides in relation to geology and hydrogeology : Proc 5th International Symposium on Landslides, Lausanne, 10–15 July 1988V1, P3–35. Publ Rotterdam: A A Balkema, 1988 , 1988 .

[5]  H. Wang,et al.  Assessment of risk from rockfall from active and abandoned quarry slopes , 1995 .

[6]  D. Nicholson.  Deterioration of excavated rockslopes : mechanisms, morphology and assessment , 2000 .

[7]  R. M. Spang.  Protection Against Rockfall - Stepchild In The Design Of Rock Slopes , 1987 .

[8]  Anders Rapp,et al.  Recent Development of Mountain Slopes in Kärkevagge and Surroundings, Northern Scandinavia , 1960 .

[9]  A. M. Ritchie.  EVALUATION OF ROCKFALL AND ITS CONTROL , 1963 .

[10]  R. E. Williams,et al.  Performance of highway cuttings in chalk : Proc International Chalk Symposium, Brighton, 4–7 September 1989 P469–477. Publ London: Thomas Telford, 1990 , 1991 .

[11]  M. Ameen,et al.  Fractography: fracture topography as a tool in fracture mechanics and stress analysis. An introduction , 1995, Geological Society, London, Special Publications.

[12]  Siegfried Siegesmund,et al.  Natural Stone, Weathering Phenomena, Conservation Strategies and Case Studies , 2003 .

[13]  H. A. Viles,et al.  Experimental production of weathering nanomorphologies on carbonate stone , 1998 .

[14]  D. Norbury,et al.  A Critical Review of Section 8 (BS 5930)—Soil and Rock Description , 1986, Geological Society, London, Engineering Geology Special Publications.

[15]  R. B. G. Williams,et al.  Effects of aspect on weathering: anomalous behaviour of sandstone gravestones in Southeast England , 2000 .

[16]  P. G. Fookes,et al.  Rock weathering in engineering time , 1988, Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology.

[17]  M. Kirkby,et al.  Hillslope Form and Process , 1972 .

[18]  Peter George Fookes,et al.  Stabilization and control of local rock falls and degrading rock slopes , 1976, Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology.

[19]  The description of rock masses for engineering purposes , 1977, Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology.

[20]  D. Varnes,et al.  Landslide types and processes , 2004 .

[21]  D. G. Price,et al.  Weathering and weathering processes , 1995, Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology.

[22]  I. W. Farmer,et al.  Consistency and repeatability of Schmidt Hammer rebound data during field testing , 1980 .

[23]  Dawn T. Nicholson.  The visual impact of quarrying , 1996 .