Volume 3, Issue 1 — Year 2026 — Article e100055

ISSN (Online): 3115-8129 Biannually

Empirical Geomechanical Classifications of Rock Mass in the Kashmir Valley Using RMR, SMR and Q Systems

Article Type: Case Study
Pages: e100055
DOI: https://doi.org/10.22034/CGEL.3.1.e100055
Crossmark
Open Access
Authors
Affiliations
  1. Department of Civil Engineering, National Institute of Technology Srinagar, Hazratbal 190006, Jammu & Kasmir, India
  2. Department of Civil Engineering, National Institute of Technology Srinagar, Hazratbal 190006, Jammu & Kasmir, India
  3. Department of Civil Engineering, National Institute of Technology Srinagar, Hazratbal 190006, Jammu & Kasmir, India
Corresponding author
Email: aasif09phd19@nitsri.ac.in
ORCID: 0000-0001-5204-8119
Received: 28 January 2026 / Accepted: 26 March 2026 / Published: 25 May 2026
Abstract

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.

Keywords

Kashmir Valley, Rock mass rating, Slope mass rating, Q-system, Civil infrastructure

Data availability statement

The data supporting the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request. No publicly archived dataset was generated.

Funding

This research is part of the PhD work of Aasif Ibni Ahad. It did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or notforprofit sectors. The author acknowledges support from the Institute Fellowship during the course of the PhD program.

Highlights
  • Rock masses mostly poor quality in Kashmir
  • SMR shows unstable slope conditions
  • Results guide infrastructure design and risk planning
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How to cite
Ahad, A. I., Yousuf, M., & Bukhari, S. K. (2026). Empirical Geomechanical Classifications of Rock Mass in the Kashmir Valley Using RMR, SMR and Q Systems. Civil and Geoengineering Letters, 3(1), e100055. https://doi.org/10.22034/CGEL.3.1.e100055
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