SSR Classification System

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The SSR (Slope Stability Rating) classification system (Taheri et al.,
2006a) is a new rock mass classification system which has been
proposed in Iran to study the stability of fractured rock slopes with
non-structural control failures (Table 1). This system is proposed
based on modified GSI which was described before, and Non-linear
Hoek-Brown failure criterion.
In SSR, beside the Geological Strength Index (GSI), five more
parameters have been taken into account. The SSR values of the rock
mass can be determined from Table 1, by summing the rating value of
all the parameters. It should be mentioned that the rating values of the
second parameter (UCS) in table 1 is the difference from an old version
(Taheri et al., 2006b) and have been modified in this study.
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Table 1. Rock mass classification with SSR (Slope Stability Rating)

system for preliminary evaluation of slope stability
Table 2. Rock groups defined for SSR rating system
SSR Slope Design Charts

To provide a useful tool for the preliminary design of rock slopes,

several stability analysis was performed using the limit equilibrium
code, CLARA.
Based on the studied slopes, several rock slopes were assumed with
heights ranging from 25 to 400 meters and slope face angles from 30 to
70 degrees.
Different discontinuity and intact rock properties, slope excavation
methods and environmental characteristics such as groundwater and
earthquake force were considered. The SSR value was determined for
each of the studied slopes, with various geometry and safety factors, as
well. Four design charts were prepared for factors of safety 1.0, 1.2, 1.3
& 1.5. Figure 1. shows the chart associated with F.S = 1.
The design charts for different factors of safety have similar shapes but
different positions in which as the factor of safety increases, curves
shift to the right side to provide more conservative designs. These
charts provide the relationships between the safe slope angles versus
slope height, at the different factor of safety as a function of the
calculated SSR values for the rock masses.
Figure 1. Rock slope design chart, based on SSR values of the rock
masses (F.S=1.0)
Field Verifications
Considering fields of application of the SSR system, it is important that
the system is validated for the intended use. For this purpose, the
system was reviewed using several slope sites. Table 3 represents the
geometrical and stability conditions of 6 slope sites from Iran which
had been studied previously to propose the SSR system.
Base on the information obtained in the site investigations, the SSR
values of the slopes were determined. Amongst the 9 cases studied
cases there were two unstable slopes and others are in the stable
condition.
 Table 3.
Summary of slope data from case studies in Iran
Another database of rock slopes from Australia was also studied in this
work. Table 4 summarized these case records (Douglas, 2002). 37
cases were selected from 13 open-pit mines. Each mine may have
several stable/unstable slopes denoted as a, b, c, etc.
The rating of rock mass structures which is represented by GSI was
determined by Douglas (2002). In this database, there are two
groundwater conditions, dry and moderate pressure, which the
corresponding rating was determined. Furthermore, since the
database is based on slopes in mining operations, the rating for normal
blasting (production blasting) is allocated to all.
UCS and rock type rating was obtained based on the information which
made available by Douglas (2002) and finally the SSR values were
calculated for each case. It should be mentioned that in both databases
the slopes were studied in a static condition which implies the zero-
rating for earthquake force parameter.
 T
Table 4. Part of the Summary of Slope Data from Case Studies in
Australia
The two databases from Iran and Australia combined into one
database and presented in Figure 2. The database consists of 46 slopes,
of which 28 were stable and 18 had failed. All failures were non-
structural i.e. thoroughly fractured rock mass.
To study the consistency of original design charts with the database, a
comparison of the failed case records and SSR design chart on the
verge of failure (FS=1) is presented in Figure 3. General observation
shows that several of the cases do not confirm the design curves and
original design curves would have indicated the use of steeper slopes.
Figure 2. Relationship between SSR and height in the combined
database

Figure 3. Comparison of failed cases in database with original

design charts (FS=1)
Conclusions
1. The rock mass classification systems, developed in recent years for
slope stability problems have some limitations, especially in
analyzing the stability of slopes in closely jointed or crushed rock
masses.
2. In order to establish a modified rock classification system for
assessing the stability of rock slopes with non-structurally
controlled anticipated failures, the Geological Strength Index (GSI)
has been found to be a useful and reliable tool.
3. SSR (Slope Stability Rating) is a new rating system which has been
proposed to study the stability of fractured rock slopes with non-
structurally controlled failures.
4. By calculation the SSR value of a rock mass, the safe slope face angle
can be determined by using the proposed slope design charts. In
these charts, the safe slope angles have been plotted against slope
height and SSR value of rock masses.
5. The system was reviewed on the basis of a database consists of 46
rock slopes from Iran and Australia. The modified rock slope design
charts are proposed for maximum excavation angle (FS=1) and also
for some conservative excavation angles (FS= 1.2, 1.3, 1.5).