Classification and rating of disintegrated dolomite strata for slope stability analysis

Although disintegrated dolomite, widely distributed across the globe, has conventionally been a focus of research in underground engineering, the issue of slope stability issues in disintegrated dolomite strata is gaining increasing prominence. This is primarily due to their unique properties, including low strength and loose structure. Current methods for evaluating slope stability, such as basic quality (BQ) and slope stability probability classification (SSPC), do not adequately account for the poor integrity and structural fragmentation characteristic of disintegrated dolomite. To address this challenge, an analysis of the applicability of the limit equilibrium method (LEM), BQ, and SSPC methods was conducted on eight disintegrated dolomite slopes located in Baoshan, Southwest China. However, conflicting results were obtained. Therefore, this paper introduces a novel method, SMRDDS, to provide rapid and accurate assessment of disintegrated dolomite slope stability. This method incorporates parameters such as disintegrated grade, joint state, groundwater conditions, and excavation methods. The findings reveal that six slopes exhibit stability, while two are considered partially unstable. Notably, the proposed method demonstrates a closer match with the actual conditions and is more time-efficient compared with the BQ and SSPC methods. However, due to the limited research on disintegrated dolomite slopes, the results of the SMRDDS method tend to be conservative as a safety precaution. In conclusion, the SMRDDS method can quickly evaluate the current situation of disintegrated dolomite slopes in the field. This contributes significantly to disaster risk reduction for disintegrated dolomite slopes. •Established a new slope mass rating classification method for disintegrated dolomite slopes named SMRDDS.•The SMRDDS method includes the disintegrated grade, joint state, groundwater condition, and excavation method.•The SMRDDS method offers superior stability evaluations for disintegrated dolomite slopes compared to BQ and SSPC methods.•The SMRDDS method can help advance subsequent research on disintegrated dolomite slopes.