Abstract
Abstract. The prediction of the effects of rockfall on passive protection structures, such as reinforced ground embankments, is a very complex task and, for this reason, both full-scale tests and numerical dynamic modelling are essential. A systematic set of numerical FEM models, developed in the dynamic field, has been implemented in this work to evaluate the conditions of an embankment that has been subjected to the impact of rock blocks of various sizes at different speeds. These analyses have permitted design charts to be obtained. Furthermore, a simplified analytical approach, based on an equilibrium analysis, has been proposed and its results are compared with numerical data in order to assess its feasibility. A good correspondence between the results has been obtained.
Highlights
Rockfall protection embankments are widely used to stop high kinetic energy rockfall events (Fig. 1), both in civil and in mining applications, in order to protect roads, inhabited areas, quarry plants or yards
In order to understand the behaviour of ground reinforced embankments during impact, some full-scale tests have been carried out by various authors (Barrett and White, 1991; Burroughs et al, 1993; Peila et al, 1999, 2007; Tissieres, 1999; Yoshida, 1999)
Isosceles trapezium Valley-side face dip 70°÷90° Mountain-side face dip 70°÷90° covered by big bags filled with sand
Summary
Rockfall protection embankments are widely used to stop high kinetic energy rockfall events (Fig. 1), both in civil and in mining applications, in order to protect roads, inhabited areas, quarry plants or yards. In order to understand the behaviour of ground reinforced embankments during impact, some full-scale tests have been carried out by various authors (Barrett and White, 1991; Burroughs et al, 1993; Peila et al, 1999, 2007; Tissieres, 1999; Yoshida, 1999). These experiments only permitted a limited number of variations of both the geometries and impact energies to be studied, due to their complexity. In order to develop a general design scheme, based on evidence already acquired and reported in literature from fullscale tests, a systematic series of numerical models has been carried out to provide design guidelines that can help engineers choose embankment characteristics
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