= RQD x

Jr J wice
Qslope x
Jn Ja o
SRFslope

Orientation adjustment for joints in rock slopes (Jr/Ja)o SRF

slope
For Jr “contact” categories a) and b) Slope surface condition (now or expected due to
Ja “contact” categories a) and b)
susceptibility to wethering and erosion
SRFslope
Note: Use A) and B) when wedges are formed:
A) slight loosening due to surface location 2.5

For A) the least favourable set or discontinuity B) Loose blocks, signs of tension cracks and joint
5.0
multiply Jr/Ja by following: shearing, but susceptibility to weathering
o-factor C) As B but strong susceptibility to weathering 10
if v. favourably oriented 2 D) Slope is in advanced stage of erosion and
quite favourable 1 15
loosening due to periodic water erosion and/or
unfavourable 0.75 ice-wedging effects
very unfavourable 0.5 E) Residual slope with significant transport of
20
causing failure if unsupported 0.25 material down-slope

For B) the second least favourable set or discontinuity Adverse stress-strength range
multiply Jr/Ja by following:  / SRFslope
C 1

o-factor
J) Moderate stress-strength range 50-200 2.5
if v. favourably oriented 1.5
K) High stress-strength range 10-50 5-2.5
quite favourable 1
unfavourable 0.9 L) Localized intact rock failure 5-10 10-5
very unfavourable 0.8 M) Crushing or plastic yield 2.5-5 15-10
causing failure if unsupported 0.7 N) Plastic flow of strain softened material 1-2.5 20-15

Example: set 1 dominant, least favourable Jr = 1.5 Ja = 2 Major discontinuities i.e. faults, weakness zones and
set 2 less dominant Jr = 2 Ja=1
joint swarms which may also contain clay filling that
Wedges structures are formed by these two sets adversely affect the slope stability
A) Jr/Ja = 1.5/2 o- factor = 0.5
B) Jr/Ja = 2/1 o- factor = 0.9 K) Major discontinuity with little or no day with orientation
The total “Jr/Ja” term used in Qslope is the combined term: SRFslope
1.5/2 * 0.5 * 2/1 * 0.9 = 0.68 e) favourable 1
f) unfavourable 2
g) very unfavourable 4
Water pressure and ice wedge factor - J wice h) causing failure if unsupported 8

Desert Wet Tropical Ice L) Major discontinuity with RDQ100= 0 due to clay and
environment environment storms wedging crushed rock, with orientation
SRFslope
Stable structure
1.0 0.7 0.5 0.9
competent rock e) favourable 2
Stable structure 0.7 0.6 0.3 0.5 f) unfavourable 4
incompetent rock
g) very unfavourable 8
Unstable structure
competent rock 0.8 0.5 0.1 0.3 h) causing failure if unsupported 16

Unstable structure
0.5 0.3 0.05 0.2
M) Major discontinuity with RDQ300
= 0 due to clay and
incompetent rock crushed rock, with orientation
SRFslope
Note: e) favourable 4
When drainage measures are installed
f) unfavourable 8
apply J wice x 1.5
g) very unfavourable 12
When slope reinforcement measures are installed h) causing failure if unsupported 24
apply Jwice x 1.3
When drainage and reinforcement is installed RQD
100
= 1 meter perpendicular sample of discontinuity
apply both factor: J w x 1.5 x 1.3 RQD 300= 1 meter perpendicular sample of discontinuity