Applications of rock mass classification system and SSPC methods to selected excavated slopes of Bekçiler (Maçka-Trabzon)-Torul (Gümüşhane) district

Applications of Rock Mass Classification System and SSPC Methods to Selected Excavated Slopes of Torul (GÜMÜŞHANE)- Bekçiler (Maçka- TRABZON) District The durability of the excavated slopes of Bekçiler-Savaslı district of Trabzon- Gümüşhane highway are evaluated by rock mass classifications system and probility classification In the study area, the oldest rocks are Turonian-Santonian andesite and its pyroclastics that interbedded with dark red coloured clayey limestone, sandy limestone and tuffit. This series rocks called as Çatak Formation that concordantly overlie Kızılkaya Formation, is consist of mainly Turonian?-Santonian dacite and its pyroclastics with some sedimentary rock lenses. Campahian-Maastrichtian Çağlayan Formation concordantly covers all these series. Çağlayan Formation consists of mainly andesite-basalt and pyroclastics with clayey limestone, sandy limestone and marl interbedded. 64 geotechnic units are separated from using the geometry of excavation slopes, the lithological features, the alteration state and the frequency of discontinuity. The strength properties of rock materials are obtained for each geotechnic units. Finally, slope stability calculations are done for all geotechnic units. In this study, RMS, RMR, M-RMR and MRMR classification systems are not recommended for the evaluation of rock slope stability due to difficulties involved to descriptions and measurements of input parameters and they don't consider worn out failure mode of the slopes. This study shows that there is a good agreement between slope stability description results of SMR and SSPC and the field observations. Therefore, for the study area, SMR and SSPC methods can be applied for the definition of slope stability. However, obtained results must be tested through different area.. Additionally, rock mass classification and slope stability definitions must be used in the first stage of slope design study or it must use a tool for accomplish detail mapping and analyzing. Key words: Slope Stability, Rock Mass Classification, Weathering, Probility Classification VII