Investigation of geotechnical properties of rock masses at Zala (Araç, Kastamonu) Hyroelectric Power Plant

In this study, geological and geotechnical properties of the rock masses outcropping at Zala Hydroelectric complex (Araç, Kastamonu) in the Western Black Sea basin were investigated. On this subject, engineering properties of the rock masses were identified by the field researches, in consequence of experiments on the samples collected from the boreholes, the physical and the mechanical properties of the intact rocks were determined. As a result of all these data, geotechnical properties such as rock mass excavatability, bearing capacity and stability of rock masses were investigated, The geological units in the studied area are the Liyas aged Hamurkesen Formation and Quternary alluvium.Surface (geophysical studies) and subsurface (drilling) studies were conducted for description of vertical and horizontal homogeneity of geotechnical units in the site, and 1/2500 scaled map was prepared.