1 Cut Slope Design for Stratigraphic Sequences Subject to Differential Weathering: 1 A Case Study from Ohio 2 YONATHAN ADMASSU 3 Department of Geology and Environmental Science, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA 22807 4 ABDUL SHAKOOR 5 Department of Geology, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242 6 ABSTRACT 7 Designing cut slopes along Ohio highways depends on local stratigraphy and slope stability 8 problems. Based on stratigraphy and modes of failure, cut slopes in Ohio were divided into three types: 9 1) consisting of strong rock units (sandstones and limestones) that exhibit discontinuity-related failures; 10 2) consisting of weak rock units (shales, claystones, and mudstones) that exhibit raveling, gully erosion, 11 and rotational sliding; and 3) consisting of interlayered strong and weak rock units where differential 12 weathering causes undercutting-induced failures. Data regarding geological, geotechnical, and 13 geometrical parameters were collected for 26 sites, representing the three types of slopes, and were 14 used to perform: kinematic analysis, rockfall trajectory simulations, and global stability analysis. This 15 paper focuses on the design of cut slopes in interlayered stratigraphy where differential weathering is 16 the primary cause of slope instability. Based on stratigraphic variations, we categorized cut slopes in the 17 interlayered units into four types: Type I - thick sandstone underlain by thick shale or 18 claystone/mudstone; Type II - sandstone interlayered with shale or claystone/mudstone in nearly equal 19 proportions; Type III -limestone interlayered with claystone/mudstone in nearly equal proportions; and 20 Type IV - claystone/mudstone interlayered with minor, thin limestone layers. Based on stability analyses 21 and rockfall simulations, we recommend cut slope designs for each stratigraphic sequence that consider 22 slope angles for undercut units to reduce rockfall potential, slope angles for undercutting units that are 23