Year: 2026 | Month: August | Volume: 13 | Issue: 8 | Pages: 143-153
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijrr.20260816
Stability Analysis of the Natural Slopes of the Poponguine Cliff (Senegal) using the SMR and CSMR Methods
Issa Ndoye1, Adama Dione1, Papa Sanou Faye2, Mohamadou Moustapha Thiam1, Ibrahima Khalil Cissé3
1Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Mines et de la Géologie – Université Cheikh Anta Diop – Dakar,
2UFR Sciences et Technologies – Université Iba Der THIAM – Thiès,
3Ecole Polytechnique de Thiès – Thiès.
Corresponding Author: Issa Ndoye
ABSTRACT
The aim of this study is to analyse the stability of the Poponguine rock cliff using the SMR methods. The SMR and CSMR methods are based on the RMR geomechanical classification and on the identification of potential kinematic failures using stereographic projection. Three stations, designated S1, S2 and S3, were defined in order to apply the SMR methods to the Poponguine cliff. The RMR values at the three stations indicate an average rock mass, with respective RMR ratings of 48 (S1), 50 (S2) and 46 (S3). The main discontinuities identified were projected, and the kinematic analysis highlighted potential failure modes involving sliding and toppling. For the various failure types, the SMR and CSMR scores generally correspond to stable to partially stable slopes, with the exception of wedges 1 and 2 at station S1, for which the failure probabilities are 0.6 and 0.9, respectively, indicating unstable to completely unstable slopes.
Keywords: Poponguine cliff, Slope stability, RMR, SMR, CSMR
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