Assessment of Slope Stability Problems in an

Open Pit Quarry; an Example from Istanbul 375

Cebeci Region, Turkey

Selman Er, Murat Ylmaz, Atiye Tugrul, Altay Ertin, Nuray Tokgz, and Ersin
Arel

Abstract
Rock slope stability is one of the important problems for open pit quarrying. This paper
presents an instability assessment for jointed sandstone cut slopes in Cebeci Region, Istanbul,
Turkey. In the quarry site, Carboniferous sandstones including diabase dykes are cropped out
and these rocks are produced as aggregate. For this study, rstly, eld study involving detailed
discontinuity surveys were performed. Then, kinematical analyses were carried out to
determine the potential failures at the quarry. According to the results of kinematic analysis,
planar and wedge types of failures are expected in different parts of quarry. Based on the eld
studies and stability analyses of the cut slopes, optimum slope geometry and necessary support
measures are suggested.

Keywords
Sandstone Slope stability Open pit quarry Kinematic analysis

stability depends largely upon the geologic and geotechnical

375.1 Introduction
characteristics of the rock. This study is an investigation into
the engineering geological model for the quarry and pit slope
Cebeci sandstone quarries are located on North of Sultangazi
stability assessment. Geologic structure refers to the type,
district, Istanbul, Turkey. Current quarrying operations pro-
condition, orientation and spacing of discontinuities within
duce between 500.000 and 600.000 tonnes of aggregate in a
the mass. As the presence and character of discontinuties have
year for Istanbul and surrounding region. Management of
an important inuence upon the stability of rock slopes, their
aggregate quarries in Cebeci Region requires a careful
assessment forms a critical part of any stability assessment.
assessment of the stability of high and steep faces, created and
continuously modied by the excavation activity. Slope
375.2 Geology of Study Area

S. Er (&)
M. Ylmaz
A. Tugrul Units of various ages from the Carboniferous to the Qua-
Department of Geological Engineering, Istanbul University, ternary are exposed in the Cebeci region. Carboniferous
Istanbul, Turkey rocks are outcropped over large areas and these rocks are
e-mail: selmaner@gmail.com
part of the stanbul Paleozoic Complex. This study was
A. Ertin carried out on the Carboniferous Trakya formation, a
Geo-Net Engineering & Consulting, Farabi Sk. 13/5, Ankara,
sequence that is unconformably overlain by Neogene sedi-
Turkey
ments and alluvial deposits. The Trakya formation generally
N. Tokgz
consists of intercalated sequences of sandstone (greywac-
Department of Mining Engineering, Istanbul University,
Istanbul, Turkey kes), shale, siltstone, mudstone and limestone member.
Sandstone is the most abundant rock type in this formation,
E. Arel
Department of Civil Engineering, stanbul, Kultur University, and limestone and conglomerate interbeds or lenses are
Istanbul, Turkey found between layers. The thickness of the Trakya formation

G. Lollino et al. (eds.), Engineering Geology for Society and Territory Volume 2, 2097
DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-09057-3_375, Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2015
2098 S. Er et al.

varies between 6001700 metres. Greenish brown coloured
diabase dykes, up to 10 m thick, are common in the study
area, and generally follow a NW-SE direction.
375.3 Geotechnical Investigations
375.3.1 Discontinuities
Quantitative analysis of fracturing was performed through
statistical surveys carried out in different locations within the
quarry area. On a large scale, discontinuities appear as very
irregular and frequently stepped . In the upper zone, dis-
continuities are generally less inclined in comparison to the
bottom. Joint orientation was measured on variably oriented
faces, belonging either to articial cuts or to the natural
slope. The traditional compass survey was utilized. The
poles of planes are represented in Fig. 375.1 on an equal-
area stereographic projection. From the spatial distribution
of the poles, four sets of discontinuities were recognized
(Table 375.1). The joint set J1 appears in the whole quarry
area and it is by far the most important one, due to its higher
persistency. The set J4 is less recurrent in the zone. The sets
of discontinuities J1 and J2 display spacing from 0.1 m to
values greater than 5 m, while for the J3th spacing varies
from 0.8 m to values greater than 5 m. A great decreasing of
spacing from the bottom to the top of the slope can be
observed, so that the quarry area is characterized by a wide
spacing, up to values of 5 m. The areal extent of disconti-
nuities varies for the different sets of discontinuities. The
discontinuity trace lengths on the surface of exposures
widely vary from 0.6 m (J1 and J3 sets) up to 25 m (J1 set).
Aperture can be considered tight and rarely some disconti-
nuities of the J1 set show an aperture up to moderately wide
(0.3 mm). Discontinuities of the J1 and J3 sets often present
patinas due to oxidation and occasionally a crushed material
lling. Generally all the discontinuities are not very rough
and undulated. Roughness parameter JRC (Barton and
Choubey 1977) from prolometer measurements, deter-
mined on 50 mm cylindrical specimens, provided a very
wide distribution, from 4 to 8. The smaller specimens con-
rmed the prolometer results, while the larger specimens
provided lower values of JRC: mean value equal to 5.2
instead of 7.4 from the prolometer.

375.3.2 Engineering Geological Properties

Engineering geological properties of the rocks exposed

Fig. 375.1 Streonet showing the bedding and joints sets at sandstone
quarry
along the quarry site were determined on the basis of eld
observations and laboratory tests. The description of rock
material and mass characteristics were based on Ulusay and
Hudson (2007). A total of 15 oriented block samples were
collected from the eld study for laboratory testing. Labo-
ratory tests were carried out on rock samples including
physical and mechanical tests. The tests were performed in
accordance with ASTM and European Standards (EN). The
results of these tests are summarized in Table 375.2.

Table 375.1 Measured joint sets and properties of sandstones

Type Spacing (m) Persistence (m) Inlling properties Roughness Dip/dip
direction
J1 Min. 0.2 m, max. 1.5 m, Min. 1 m, max 10 m and Generally crushed materials, Generally smooth, 75/113
J2 mean 0.5 cm. above, mean. 3 m. slightly clay and calcite slightly roughness, 73/315
J3 61/054
J4 63/245
B1 27/215
B2 68/017
J Joint, B Bedding
375 Assessment of Slope Stability Problems in an Open Pit Quarry 2099

Table 375.2 Laboratory test results of sandstone and diabase

Sample Unit weight Unaxial compressive strength Youngs modulus Poissons ratio Direct shear strength
Cohesion Friction angle
UCS Ei c
[kN/m3] [MPa] [GPa] [kPa] []
Sandstone 28.67 90 16.5 0.1 40 40
Diabase 27.96 103

375.3.3 Stability Analysis
Evaluation of rock slope stability was performed by kine-
matic analyses. Kinematic refers to the motion of bodies
without reference to the forces that cause them to move
(Goodman 1989). A kinematic analysis is very useful to
investigate possible failure modes of rock masses which
contain discontinuities. Planar, wedge and toppling failure
modes were kinematically investigated. During the kine-
matic analysis, the optimum slope angle for each cut slope
was determined by considering the safest slope angle for any
kind of failure. The summary of analysis and the proposed
slope angle for each cut slope are shown in Table 375.3.
As a result of the kinematic analysis, planar failures are
expected on the slope face in zones 1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10.
According to Hoek and Bray (1977), factor of safety for
static and earthquake conditions are calculated for related
zones. The results are given in Table 375.4.
Due to the good rock mass quality, rotational failure is
not expected to occur at the cut slopes. The slope instability
is totally controlled by discontinuities. For this reason, a
computer program called SWEDGE 4.0 is used for the cut
slopes having wedge failure potential. This analysis is car-
ried out to assess factor of safety for static and earthquake
conditions (c = 40 kPa ve = 40). According to the results,
wedge failures are not expected on the inter-ramp slope face

Table 375.3 Modes of failures based on kinematic analysis

Zone no Slope face Inter-ramp slope Overall slope
Planar Wedge Toppling Planar Wedge Toppling Planar Wedge Toppling
Zone 1 + + + + + +
Zone 2 + + + + + +
Zone 3 + + + +
Zone 4 + + + + +
Zone 5 + + + +
Zone 6 + + + +
Zone 7 + + + +
Zone 8 + +
Zone 9 + + + +
Zone 10 + + + + + +
Zone 11 + + + + + +

Table 375.4 Safety coefcient calculated with analytical methods for potential planar failures
Zone no Involved discontinuity set Factor of safety (static) Factor of safety (earthquake)
Zone 1 J4 1.31 1.04
Zone 5 J3 1.28 1.00
Zone 6 J3 1.28 1.00
Zone 7 B2 1.51 1.24
Zone 8 J1 2.64 2.35
Zone 9 B2 1.51 1.24
Zone 10 J4 1.31 1.04
J Joint, B Bedding
2100 S. Er et al.

Table 375.5 Optimum slope angle and geometry calculated with analytical methods for wedge failures
Zone no Involved discontinuity set Optimum slope geometry (V) Optimum slope angle () Factor of safety
Zone 7 B2&J3 1H:3 72 No wedge
Zone 8 J1&J3 1H:4 76 1.433
Zone 9 B2&J3 2H:5 68 No wedge
J Joint, B Bedding, H Horizontal, V Vertical

Table 375.6 Recommended remedial measures for the cut slopes

Cut Slope Remedial measures
Optimum slope (V) Wire mesh Ditch
RA1 2H:3
RA2 2H:3
RA3 1H:6 + +
RA4 1H:6 + +
RA5 1H:6 + +
RA Risky areas H Horizontal, V Vertical

and overall slope. But, on the single slope face, especially in
zones 7, 8 and 9, potential wedge failures are expected. To
prevent potential wedge failures in zones 7, 8 and 9, analyses
are repeated and optimum slope geometry, angle and factor
of safety are determined. The results are shown in
Table 375.5.
In order to obtain safety slopes in studied quarry, opti-
mum slope rates were determined by stereographic analysis.
According to these analysis, the risk areas and optimum
slope rates related with these risky areas were determined
and shown in Table 375.6. As seen in this table, the overall
optimum slope rates vary between 2H:3 V and 1H:6 V. In
addition to this, remedial measures such as wire mesh and
ditch for the risky areas were recommended in the study area
(Table 375.6).
the some discontinuity failures on the single slope faces.
Planar failures and wedge failures are expected on the single
slope face. In order to obtain safe production in the studied
quarry, slopes should be designed by using factor of safety,
optimum slope angle and geometry. As a result of stereo-
graphic analysis, ve risky areas were determined and pro-
posed optimum slope rate for RA1 and RA2 is 2H:3 V. Also
the proposed optimum slope rate for 1H:6 V depends on the
orientation and density of discontinuities, planes and mode
of failures. To prevent potential failures, wire mesh and
ditches were additional remedial measures for RA3, RA4
and RA5 in the study area.
References

Goodman RE (1989) Introduction to rock mechanics, 2nd edn. Wiley,

375.4 Conclusion
This study is aimed at assessing the stability of sandstone at
the Cebeci quarry site. Based on the information collected
from the eld and laboratory study, the kinematical analysis
was carried out to determine the slope stability at the quarry
site. Based on the kinematical analysis, slopes pointed out
New York
Hoek E, Bray JW (1977) Rock slope engineering. Instn Min. Metall,
London
Ulusay R, Hudson JA (2007) The complete ISRM suggested methods
for rock characterization testing and monitoring: 19742006.
Compilation Arranged by the ISRM Turkish Method Group,
Ankara