Civil and Geoengineering Letters Editorial Office info@jcivilgeo.com mEDRA 20260525 DOI Registration 01

06 10.22034/CGEL.3.1.e100055 https://jcivilgeo.com/article/e100055 Civil and Geoengineering Letters mEDRA 01 01 3115-8129 Civil and Geoengineering Letters Editorial Office IR 01 3115-8129 JB 3 1 01 202605 1 1 A01 Aasif Ibni Ahad Ahad, Aasif Ibni Aasif Ibni Ahad 2 A01 Maqbool Yousuf Yousuf, Maqbool Maqbool Yousuf 3 A01 Syed Kaiser Bukhari Bukhari, Syed Kaiser Syed Kaiser Bukhari 01 eng 202605 03 00 This study presents a comprehensive geotechnical characterization of rock mass conditions across diverse litho-tectonic domains of the Kashmir Valley using the Rock Mass Rating (RMR), Slope Mass Rating (SMR), and Barton’s Q-system. Detailed field investigations were carried out at multiple locations in the Kashmir Valley covering sedimentary, metamorphic, and igneous formations using established empirical correlations. The results indicate that a large proportion of the investigated rock masses fall within the very poor to poor quality classes, with Q-values generally less than 1.0 across most sites, reflecting intensely jointed, weathered, and tectonically disturbed rock conditions. Slightly improved rock quality, ranging from fair to good, is observed locally in massive basaltic and andesitic units where Q-values exceed 5.0. SMR analysis reveals predominantly unstable to partially stable slope conditions, particularly in phyllite, slate, limestone, and volcaniclastic sequences, emphasizing high susceptibility to planar, wedge, and toppling failures along major transportation corridors. From an engineering perspective, the integrated RMR–SMR–Q assessment underscores the necessity of robust design measures in civil infrastructure projects, including highways, tunnels, slopes, and foundations. The findings provide a region-specific geomechanical database that can serve as a critical input for preliminary design, hazard zonation, and risk-informed planning of infrastructure development in the seismically active and geologically complex terrain of the Kashmir Himalaya. 20 Kashmir Valley; Rock mass rating; Slope mass rating; Q-system; Civil infrastructure 01 00 20260128 02 00 20260326 2026 Aasif Ibni Ahad