ANALYSIS OF THE STABILITY OF ROCK MASSES RELATING TO THE DIRECTION OF FAMILIES OF DIACLASES, SHEAR SLOPES AND WEDGE SYSTEMS

Abstract

The natural dynamics of the planet have generated the current geoforms, the interactions between tectonic plates produce forces that are reflected in the lithosphere, and the rocks register faults, joints, and shear zones that, being exposed to erosion, weathering, and anthropic activity, generate instability in the rock mass processes. The main objective of this research was to analyze the relationship of the different geological structures with the cut of the slopes and the existing wedge system. For this, a methodology containing four phases was developed. The first phase consisted of the analysis of photointerpretation, the second corresponded to the field work for the collection of structural data in road infrastructure and in a rocky material exploitation, in the third phase the modeling was conducted using the DIPS software, and the final phase involved the data analysis. The results show a relationship between low safety factors and unstable rock wedges in the two places analyzed. This research shows the lack of geotechnical studies in the construction of road infrastructure. There is no analysis of structural data, nor analysis of stability of slopes, there are no analyzes of unstable wedges, and rigorous records that indicate the current conditions of the slopes and which should be intervened with conventional engineering works for the safety of the users of these roads. The novelty of this research is given by integrating three types of records that combined can give greater certainty about the safety factor on a slope. Keywords: Rock Massif, Geological Structures, Safety Factors, Unstable Wedges DOI： https://doi.org/10.35741/issn.0258-2724.58.4.92