Kinematic and Geological Strength Index-Slope Application for Stability Evaluation of the Rock Slopes for Some Selected Sites Along Old Azmar Road in a Part of Azmar Anticlinorium, Sulaimaniyah, Kurdistan Region NE-Iraq

This study comprises choosing ten (10) excavated rock slope stations along old Azmar road, on the NE-side of Azmar mountain at Sulaymaniyah, Kurdistan region, NE-Iraq, and the stability of these excavated rock slopes was evaluated by descriptive and quantitative approaches. The selection of the slope stations relies on changes in the discontinuity type, slope steepness and orientation, and failure type. The field data was analyzed to determine its possible type of instability, employing the slope kinematics method by the DIPS v6.008 program, and to verify the stability condition, the Geological Strength Index-slope (GSIslope) system Finally, the joints were geometrically classified, based on the three (3) orthogonal geometric axes. Geometrical classification of joints revealed an ac-joint set, and hko>a, hko>b, hol>c & okl>c joint system. The most prevalent type is of conjugate hko joint system, whereas there are no conjugate joint systems of hol>a & okl>b types. Kinematic analysis showed four failure types, i.e., planar sliding, wedge sliding, flexural, and direct toppling failures. Planar slides may occur on the rock slopes of stations no. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10, wedge sliding may occur on the rock slopes of stations no. 1, 8, and 9, flexural and direct toppling may occur on the rock slope. The results of the GSI-slope showed that the rock slopes in stations 3 and 5 are in the completely unstable condition of class no. Five (V), and stations no. 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, and 9 are in the unstable condition of class four (lV), while the slope in station no. 10 is in a partially stable condition of class three (III).