Road Cut Research Articles

The influence of wind deflectors on the snow distribution in road cuttings during snowdrift

The prevention and control of wind-induced snow disasters in traffic lines are significant for ensuring traffic operation in high-latitude, cold areas. Many unsolved problems still exist due to the complicated mechanism of snowdrift formation. Wind-guiding measures may effectively reduce drifting snow disasters in traffic lines. By using computational fluid dynamics (CFD), the effects of three wind deflectors (vertical, backward, and forward types) on wind-induced snow accumulation in a typical cutting are discussed. We analyze the effect of the wind deflector on reducing snow deposition in terms of the flow field, deposition length, and snow facies concentration. The results show that the inclination angle of the wind deflector is a key parameter that affects snow disaster prevention. It is recommended that a forward-inclined wind deflector should be selected in practice, and the angle between the wind deflector and vertical axis should be controlled at approximately 45°.

An Investigation of the Combined Effect of Rainfall and Road Cut on Landsliding

An Investigation of the Combined Effect of Rainfall and Road Cut on Landsliding

Automatic identification of irregular rock blocks from 3D point cloud data of rock surface

The block size is an important index for determining the integrity of rock masses, as well as the evidence for estimating the rock mass classification. However, obtaining the block size information of exposed rock is a time-consuming, labor-intensive and high risk work. This paper proposed a new method to automatically identify the rock block and calculate the block size based on the 3D point cloud data of rock surface. The proposed method includes four steps: (1) automatic identification of rock discontinuity and extraction of information based on several machine learning algorithms, (2) Rough extraction of block discontinuities combination by distance filtering and angle filtering, (3) accurate identification and extraction of blocks by applying mutual projection of centroid and adding angle repair coefficient, (4) calculation of block size by filling in the concavity outline of point cloud for single block. An automatically statistic and analyzed program is compiled by matlab language based on massive point cloud of block information. The method is applied in controllable boxes model and real road cut slope, making comparison with the results of former research and calculated results by specialized point cloud processing software. It reveals that the proposed method is applicable with high calculating accuracy and efficiency.

Breeding biology of Long-tailed Cinclodes Cinclodes pabsti Sick, 1969 (Passeriformes: Furnariidae)

Cinclodes pabsti is an endemic passerine restricted to the highland areas in southern Brazil. The aim of this study was to provide information on its breeding biology. The nesting cavities along road cuts were monitored from May 2008 to March 2011. The survey was carried out monthly from May to July 2008, February to July 2009, 2010 (non-breeding season), weekly from August 2008 to January 2009, 2010 (breeding season), and on a 2 to 4-days basis from August 2010 to January 2011. The geographic location, physical characteristics, and soil/substrate type in which the nesting cavities were situated were recorded. The total number of cavities used in the three breeding seasons was 136, resulting in 295 nests. The distance of a nest to its nearest neighbor ranged from 24-2,368 m, with a higher number of nests (n = 34; 59.7%) in the distance interval of 24-500 m. There was a greater usage of cavities located in Inceptisols, and the distances of nesting cavity entrances to the ground and to the top of road cuts were 1.6 ± 0.9 m and 0.8 ± 0.62 m, respectively. The breeding season lasted 148 days from mid-August to early January. Clutch size (n = 256) varied from 2 to 3 eggs, and the eggs (n = 155) had a total length of 27.2 ± 1.3 mm, breadth of 20.9 ± 0.8 mm, and mass of 6.2 ± 0.7 g. The incubation phase lasted 17.3 ± 0.8 days and the nestling phase for 18.3 ± 1.5 days. The body mass of the chicks was 6.0 ± 1.0 g just after hatching and reached a maximum of 59.6 ± 2.4 g at 16 days of age. Our results can contribute to filling the gaps in knowledge of C. pabsti ecology, because its habitat is under high anthropic pressures and the information on its life history is yet limited.

Structural damage zone mapping: a tool to delineate the slope stability of road cuts along the Mandakini River from Rudraprayag to Kund, Uttarakhand-India

Structural damage zone mapping: a tool to delineate the slope stability of road cuts along the Mandakini River from Rudraprayag to Kund, Uttarakhand-India

Q-slope application to coal mine stability

The Q-slope classification system is used to assess the stability of excavated rock slopes and provide an indication of long-term stable, reinforcement-free slope angles. Q-slope is based on over 500 rock slope case studies from mines, road and rail cuts hosted in igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks around the world. Q-slope has successfully been applied to slopes ranging from less than 5 m to more than 250 m in height in both civil and mining environments since its introduction in 2015. This paper describes the application of Q-slope to excavated coal mine slopes which are often hosted in complex, interbedded sedimentary strata. Q-slope application to coal mine slopes is compared to the likelihood of failure calculated by the Slope Stability Assessment Methodology (SSAM). A relationship between Q-slope and SSAM is also provided.

Pre-failure deformation monitoring as rockfall prediction tool

In this article, we are elaborating an example of predictive rockfall assessment by using Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS) in monitoring a road cut, hosted in flysch rock formation, near Ljig in Serbia. A sequence of rockfall events from 2013-2019 is presented, while the cut has been more broadly investigated in our earlier work. Beside occasional rockfalls which are routinely detected by annual TLS monitoring, it was possible to track the pre-failure deformations preceding a series of rockfalls, reaching 0.3 m3 in volume with 0.5 annual reoccurrence probability. Monitoring enabled identification of subtle displacements of about 1 cm after the first event in 2014 and keeping track of its progression. After a series of events in the following years, we were able to define the pre-failure threshold which can be applied to the adjacent rock blocks, assuming a similar block volume. It also enabled us to anticipate and simulate the event before it happens. This approach allows planning, prevention and protection, and there is a great deal of interest to standardize it for high-risk slopes and cuts in rock masses.

Impact of Road Cuts in Slope Stability in Hilly Regions of Nepal

This paper reviews the geological and engineering aspects of rural road construction in the hilly areas of Nepal. The general background in geological, climatic and geographical setting is briefly presented in reference to the five-zone Himalayan model for the Nepal Himalayas. Then, alignment selection of rural roads is discussed in the context of the five zone mountain model. The impact of road cross section design and construction on mountain slopes has been studied. The cut width is a key geometric design parameter that has a significant impact on slope stability and volume of excavation. The choice of cut width in cross-section is reviewed and appropriate cut width in cross-section is recommended in terrain slopes to minimize slope failures and volume of excavation.

Lower Devonian (Pragian–Emsian) land plants from Alexandra: an early window into the diversity of Victorian flora from southeastern Australia

Numerous fragmentary plant fossils are described from the Lower Devonian outcrops near Alexandra, Victoria, southeastern Australia. These outcrops include Eglinton Cutting and two road cuttings on Mount Pleasant and Halls Flat roads previously examined by Isabel Cookson in 1935. Most plants are preserved as iron-stained impressions or coalified compressions lacking internal anatomy in fine-grained sandstone and siltstone. The vast majority of specimens examined proved to be little more than naked fragmentary axes often distributed seemingly randomly; it is the exceptions to these that are examined herein. Most of these specimens belong to the zosterophylls and isolated axes with emergences suggestive of a Gosslingiaceae affinity. Significantly, one specimen attributable to Cooksonia Lang, 1937, renalioid-like sporangia and specimens with isolated sporangia with emergences are recorded for the first time from Victoria. A discussion follows examining the possible reasons for the differences between the Alexandra and Walhalla assemblages, and it is postulated that the differing palaeocurrents indicate the terrestrial sources were from opposite directions. This easterly source for the Walhalla assemblage suggests a subaerial environment may have existed on the eastern side of the Melbourne Zone during the deposition of the Norton Gully Sandstone, earlier than the fluvial deposits of the Middle Devonian Cathedral Beds. Fearghus R. McSweeney FGS [ tidal75@gmail.com ], School of Science, RMIT University, Swanston Street, Melbourne 3000, Australia; Jeff Shimeta [ jeff.shimeta@rmit.edu.au ], School of Science, RMIT University, Swanston Street, Melbourne 3000, Australia; John St. J. S. Buckeridge FGS [ john.buckeridge@rmit.edu.au ], Earth & Oceanic Systems Group, RMIT University, GPO Box 2476.

Characteristics of forest road cut slopes affecting the movement of mammals in South Korea

Existing forest roads that are the base infrastructure foundation for forest management have been built with a focus on structural stability rather than ecological impact. In recent, however, the concerns on the ecological and environmental impacts on the forest road construction has been increased with the emphasis of sustainable forest management and the improvement of public awareness. Especially, the cut slopes that occurred on the forest road construction are known to affect the movement and habitat of wild animals living in the forest. This study aims to establish environmental and structural standards for the cut slopes by identifying the effect of forest road cut slopes on the movement of wild animals based on a survey of national forest roads in South Korea (30 km in total). Seven factors associated with forest road cut slopes, including cut slope length, cut slope gradient, soil type, longitudinal position, crossing position, aspect, and vegetation coverage, as well as wildlife tracks were investigated. As a result of statistical analysis using cross tabulation to determine the correlation of wildlife tracks with each cut slope factor, five factors (soil type, cut slope gradient, cut slope length, vegetation coverage, and crossing position) were significantly identified. Using these five factors, a prediction model to predict whether wildlife move or not on the cut slope was developed, and the discriminant hit ratio was 76.0%. Thus, using such models, there is a need to develop the guidelines of forest road installation considering the wildlife movement and of ecological corridor installation for more eco-friendly forest road construction and design in the future.

Unstable road cut slopes and design of retaining structures in the Rwandan context

Unstable road cut slopes and design of retaining structures in the Rwandan context

Stability Assessment of Ukhrul-Jessami Road Cut Slopes, Ukhrul District, Manipur

Abstract The present study is to assess the slope stability of road cuts along the National Highway 150 (202 present). Rock mass classification enables preliminary assessment of rock slope failure and guide the planners to choose suitable alignment for road construction and engineering structures. This technique includes collection of data from the intact rock and discontinuity parameters. Seven locations have been selected for slope stability analysis using RMR, SMR and CoSMR techniques. These empirical methods are used to determine the mode of failures and characterise the slope as well. Kinematic analysis deciphers the causes of instability and the mode of discontinuous rock failures. Results shows majority of road section between Ukhrul and Jessami falls under partial stable to unstable zone.

Slope Stability Analysis of Haibat Sultan Road Cut, Kurdistan Region, Iraq Using a Field Method

The road that crosses the Haibat Sultan Mountain in the northern part of Iraq; is one of the dangerous roads in this region. To perform a slope stability analysis for the dangerous parts of the road, we have used Bejerman’s Method. We have reviewed satellite images of the road and all those potential areas were checked in the field; accordingly, eleven stations were recognized. Landslide Possibility Index was determined at the studied stations following Bejerman’s field method. The road climbs the southern face (dip slope) of the mountain through very hard carbonate rocks of the Pila Spi Formation, where the bedding planes daylight in the slope face near the road cuts. This produced many large landslides. Along the northern face of the mountain, the road runs through soft clastic rocks where joint planes in the rock mass intersect and daylight in the slope face near the road cut. In order to prevent future wedge failures, a 30 m offset was created from the toe of the slope to the road. In almost all cases, the Landslide Possibility Index indicated a moderate to very high likelihood for failure along all road cuts.

Detecting active faults in intramountain basins using electrical resistivity tomography: A focus on Kashmir Basin, NW Himalaya

Kashmir basin in the NW Himalaya is surrounded by the main Himalayan boundary faults, has very well documented historical earthquakes and a good instrumental earthquake record. However, the causative faults of these earthquakes except the 8 October 2005 Kashmir earthquake (M7.6) are not known. One of many historical earthquakes that have struck and caused damage and destruction in the Kashmir basin is the 30 May 1885 Kashmir earthquake (~M6.3). The extensive damage due to this earthquake was reported in the NW part of the basin and as usual the causative fault is not known and mapped. As the earthquake related geomorphic features are not preserved due to the high erosion rates in the Kashmir Himalaya, we mapped certain active fault strands using high resolution digital elevation models (DEM) and the Google Earth imagery, later complemented by the field investigation in the NW Kashmir. The Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) was carried out at certain identified sites in the macroseismic epicentral area of the 1885 Kashmir earthquake. The results show a local active normal fault which was named as the NW Kashmir fault. The ERT results were confirmed by excavating a trench and an already existing road cut at the ERT sites. The results show that ERT is a very useful shallow geophysical method to detect faults in the Karewas. Karewas are the Plio-Pleistocene and Holocene (reworked by rivers), fluvio-lacustrine, soft and unconsolidated, sand-clay-conglomerate sediments, deposited as distinct table-land geomorphic features in the Kashmir basin and are significantly water saturated.

Pattern and risk factors for childhood injuries in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Injuries contribute to morbidity and mortality in children. This study was carried out to describe the pattern of childhood injuries and associated risk factors in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. This case control study was conducted in six selected health facilities in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire. Cases and controls were children below 18 years who had suffered injuries and those without injury associated condition respectively. A total of 492 cases and 492 controls were included in the study, falls (32%), burns (26%), Road Traffic Injuries (14%) and cuts (10%) were the major types of injuries identified. Younger parents/guardians {Adjusted odds ratio (AOR)= 1.4; 95% CI: 1.4 -3.6}, more than six people in the same house (AOR= 1.8; 95% CI: 1.3-2.6), more than three children in the house {AOR= 1.4; 95% CI (1.0-2.0)}, absence of parent/guardian at time of injury occurrence (AOR= 1.6; 95% CI: 1.1-2.3), middle socio-economic (AOR=1.6; 95%CI: 1.1-2.4) and low socio-economic status (AOR= 1.5; 95% CI: 1.0-2.1) were independent risk factors for childhood injury. Falls, burns and road traffic injuries were the main injury types in this study. Inadequate supervision, overcrowding, lower socio-economic status and low maternal age were significant risk factors for childhood injuries.

Characteristics and susceptibility zonation of landslides in Wabe Shebelle Gorge, south eastern Ethiopia

Geohazards like landslides are widely spread in Ethiopia, especially in the steep and hilly areas of the highlands and Rift escarpments. One of the areas which are highly affected by landslides and associated problems is the Wabe Shebelle gorge in Southeastern Ethiopia. Such hazards have caused damage to roads, farmlands, and dwelling houses and othee engineering infrastructures. Therefore the purpose of this study was to evaluate the characteristics of landslides, define the major factors causing slope failures, and develop landslide susceptibility zonation which could be used for development planning. The research involved: (a) comprehensive field survey/inventory of failed or potentially unstable slopes, (b) evaluation of the geological and geotechnical properties of the soils and rocks, (c) assessment of the hydrogeological conditions of the area, (d) identifying the major factors controlling slope instability, and (e) landslide susceptibility zonation using the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Frequency Ratio (FR) methods. The results of the study show that the major types of slope failures in the area include rockfalls, debris/earth slides, and rockslides. The main parameters influencing slope failures include slope angle, aspect, lithology, slope curvature, elevation, distance to road, distance to streams/rivers, and land use/cover. Results of the GIS-based landslide susceptibility mapping show that the most susceptible areas are those which are characterized by the following crucial conditions: (a) underlain by basalt and limestone formations, (b) slope gradients higher than 30°, and (c) with slope facing to east and northeast. A combination of both triggering, and conditional factors is believed to have contributed to the initiations of landslides, including road excavations and uncontrolled runoff. Based on the result, the following mitigations measures are recommended: (1) design of proper drainage structure on the roadside, (2) design of proper slope cuts along the road corridor and select planned dumping areas of road cut materials, (3) provision of retaining structures which resists the loads imposed by the slide material and integrated with sufficient drainage systems. In addition, it is advisable to promote bio-engineering as it could help to increase the stability of slopes and enhance the sustainability of roads and other infrastructures.

Investigating probable causes for predicting catastrophic landslides along NH-60 excavated through semi-arid basaltic terrain of Chandanapuri Ghat, Maharashtra, India

Road Cut Slope Catastrophe (RCSC) is a recent menace threatening vehicular traffic and commuter safety in hilly tracts. Reduction of risk along Road Cut Hill Slope (RCHS) needs to be tackled on priority. National Highway (NH) 60 (formerly NH-50) situated in semi-arid basaltic tract within Chandanapuri Ghat (hill) in Maharashtra is being expanded to enhance economic activity in the allied region. To predict RCSC or landslide activity across the Ghat stretch, eleven (n = 11) road cut slopes were investigated by collecting data regarding (1) slope, (2) RCHS height, (3) distance from road, (4) rock composition, (5) soil structure, and (6) mass movement. Traffic survey was also carried out to understand the vehicular frequency. Survey of India (SOI) 1:50,000 scale toposheet (47/I/3) and LISS-III satellite imagery were used to identify the pre-expansion road situation of the area. Mean rainfall and temperature data were collected from TRMM data, and worldclime grid, respectively, to evaluate climatic nature of the area. Satellite-derived ASTER GDEM data were used to prepare the topographic information. Field investigations, GPS data and traffic survey, space-based remote sensing (RS) satellite-derived data were all integrated in ArcGIS V.9.2 software to produce the composite spatial database of all samples. After that, RCHS site weighting and weighted factor combination (WFC) were carried out to form the Landslide Risk Intensity (LRI), i.e., Low risk (LR), Moderate Risk (MR), High risk (HR), and Very High risk (VHR). Results indicate that out of 11 samples, 2 (P3, P11) are prone to VHR, 3 (P2, P9, P10) prone to HR, 3 (P5, P7, P8) prone to MR, and 3 (P1, P4, P6) prone to RCSC. The results were validated from rock fall activity even though the cut slopes are protected with security net, confirmed by field visit. Thus, investigated RCSC will be useful to evaluate the risk intensity and help evolve suitable remedial measures for RCSC or landslide reduction in the present and other similar areas. It is also recommended to make highway slope maintenance an integral part of highway management.

Noise exposure of the residential areas close to urban expressways in a high-rise mountainous city

Urban expressways can generate excessive noise in the surrounding urban areas, and it tends to be more complex in mountainous cities, due to the undulating terrain, dense population and compact urban structures. This article aims to investigate the objective acoustic environment and road traffic noise exposure, including the noisy evaluation, annoyance and effect of roadside apartments in residential areas close to urban expressways in the high-density, high-rise, mountainous city of Chongqing. Three housing estates were selected for a series of field measurements, questionnaire surveys and noise mapping. There was a significant negative correlation between night-time noise levels and the distances to the urban expressway ( p < 0.01). Moreover, the differences between the daytime and night-time noise levels were generally insignificant (0.7 to 3.6 dBA) at the roadside locations. Differences in reaction to noise exposure in a variety of both person-related and housing condition variables were found, especially between roadside and non-roadside locations or residents. In addition, 75.0% of roadside residents identified the traffic noise as ‘very’ or ‘extremely’ annoying, and 66.7% of them regarded the acoustic environment as the priority environmental factor that needs to be improved. Difference in the ‘bedroom-window orientation’ had a significant effect on subjective noise evaluation. Rectangular-shaped apartments along the roadside obtain better noise reduction capacities than tower-blocks through the simulation. The acoustic performance of road cuttings, as an appropriately designed earth embankment, is improved along with deeper vertical alignment, and slope angles of 30° and 75° should be avoided.

A new species of Eusthenodon (Sarcopterygii, Tristichopteridae) from the Upper Devonian (Famennian) of Pennsylvania, U.S.A., and a review of Eusthenodon taxonomy

ABSTRACT A new species of Eusthenodon from the Upper Devonian (Famennian) Catskill Formation was collected from talus blocks at the base of a road cut along the Cogan House Exit Ramp on U.S. 15/Interstate 99 in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, U.S.A. The new species is represented by a nearly complete, articulated skull (ANSP 23748) and additional cranial bones, body scales, and pectoral girdle elements. The breadth of anatomy represented by the new fossils, and the quality of their preservation and preparation, enable a detailed anatomical description of a new species. The original diagnosis of Eusthenodon distinguished the taxon from Tristichopterus and Eusthenopteron, the only other described tristichopterids at the time. The descriptive qualities of the Eusthenodon wangsjoi type material do not diagnose Eusthenodon from among the highly nested tristichopterid taxa that have been discovered since the original publication. In an effort to strengthen the taxonomic status and phylogenetic utility of Eusthenodon, we propose a revised diagnosis that uses only discrete, commonly preserved features that are unlikely to be altered by deformation. The new species is the third described Catskill Formation tristichopterid along with Hyneria lindae and Langlieria radiatus. All three are large-bodied and in a highly nested phylogenetic position within the group. The presence of a single tristichopterid species at each site highlights temporal and spatial regionalization of the Catskill fauna and may, along with a suite of anatomical features, support the hypothesis that tristichopterids occupied the role of top predator in the freshwater ecosystems of the Catskill Delta complex.

Database of petrophysical properties of the Mid-German Crystalline Rise

Abstract. Petrophysical properties are a key element for reservoir characterization but also for interpreting the results of various geophysical exploration methods or geophysical well logs. Furthermore, petrophysical properties are commonly used to populate numerical models and are often critically governing the model results. Despite the common need for detailed petrophysical properties, data are still very scarce and often not available for the area of interest. Furthermore, both the online research for published property measurements or compilations, as well as dedicated measurement campaigns of the selected properties, which require comprehensive laboratory equipment, can be very time-consuming and costly. To date, most published research results are often focused on a limited selection of parameters only, and hence researching various petrophysical properties, needed to account for the thermal–hydraulic–mechanical behaviour of selected rock types or reservoir settings, can be very laborious. Since for deep geothermal energy in central Europe, the majority of the geothermal potential or resource is assigned to the crystalline basement, a comprehensive database of petrophysical properties comprising rock densities, porosity, rock matrix permeability, thermal properties (thermal conductivity and diffusivity, specific heat capacity) as well as rock mechanical properties as compressional and shear wave velocities, unconfined compressive strength, Young's modulus, Poisson's ratio, tensile strength and triaxial shear strength was compiled from measurements conducted at the HydroThermikum lab facilities of the Technical University of Darmstadt. Analysed samples were mostly derived from abandoned or active quarries and natural or artificial outcrops such as road cuts, riverbanks or steep hillslopes. Furthermore, samples of the cored deep wells Worms 3 (samples from 2175–2195 m), Stockstadt 33R (samples from 2245–2267 m), Weiterstadt 1 (samples from 2502–2504 m), Tiefbohrung Groß-Umstadt/Heubach, B/89–B02 and the cored shallow wells (Forschungsbohrung Messel GA 1 and 2) as well as GWM17 Zwingenberg, GWM1A Zwingenberg, Langenthal BK2/05, EWS267/1 Heubach, and archive samples of the Institut für Steinkonservierung e.V. in Mainz originating from a comprehensive large-scale sampling campaign in 2007 were investigated. The database (Weinert et al., 2020b; https://doi.org/10.25534/tudatalib-278) aims to provide easily accessible petrophysical properties of the Mid-German Crystalline Rise, measured on 224 locations in Bavaria, Hessen, Rhineland-Palatinate and Thuringia and comprising 26 951 single data points. Each data point is addressed with the respective metadata such as the sample identifier, sampling location, petrography and, if applicable, stratigraphy and sampling depth (in the case of well samples).