Refinement of a technique for determining rock mass strength for geomorphological purposes

Abstract

Abstract Use of a field technique recently devised by Selby for the measurement of rock mass strength has resulted in the understanding of the relationship between rock mass strength and slope form. It is suggested that the accuracy of rock mass strength assessments may be enhanced by further subdividing the rating scales for intact rock strength and the spacing of partings. The relationship between rock mass strength and gradient is reformulated using southern African data, and statistically based confidence limits for identifying strength equilibrium slopes are proposed.