| Abstract: | To assess the stability of slopes, mining and geotechnical engineers frequently use empirical rock mass classification and characterisation systems. These methods are practical and often very useful in the preliminary design stage. Slope mass rating (SMR) system is one of the commonly used empirical methods to assess the stability of slopes. The SMR is obtained correcting basic rock mass rating (RMR) using four joint adjustment factors that consider the geomechanical relationship between the slope face and the joint affecting rock mass as well as the excavation method used. The factors included in the SMR system such as basic RMR, and correction factors involve some drawbacks such as uncertainties sourced from qualitative criteria, sharp class boundaries and fixed rating scales. These drawbacks are sourced from the complex nature of rock mass. To deal with these uncertainties, the fuzzy set theory is applied in this study to reliably determine basic RMR and adjustment factors. It was seen that fuzzy set theory can sufficiently cope with the common drawbacks in the determination of factors included in the SMR system. |
