Abstract
Abstract. A hazard assessment has been performed on rock slopes impending over a segment of the Taorminese Road, which connects two popular tourist destinations in northeastern Sicily: the urban centers of Taormina and Castelmola. The road crosses steep rock slopes with a complex geological and tectonic history. The section of the road close to Castelmola is often affected by rockfall phenomena, causing injury to people and serious damage to buildings and traffic. The study analyzes the geostructural setting of the unstable rock masses, by evaluating their mechanical properties and the kinematics of potential failures. Rockfall simulations confirm that falling rocks would involve the Taorminese Road with different kinetic energy rates and prove useful for suggesting the most suitable mitigation technologies for future remedial works. The modified Rockfall Hazard Rating System has been applied to highlight the different levels of hazard along the road. The compiled hazard map shows that portions of the slopes need urgent remedial works, especially because Taorminese is the only access road to Castelmola and its interruption would lead to the isolation of the village.
Highlights
Instability of rock slopes is a public safety issue, especially when its effects involve important communication routes
This research deals with a rockfall hazard assessment carried out along the unprotected slopes, through the following steps: (1) collection of historical and recent rockfall information, (2) geostructural surveys, (3) rock and slope mass rating, (4) kinematic analysis, (5) two-dimensional rockfall trajectory simulations, and (6) application of the modified Rockfall Hazard Rating System (RHRS) (Pierson et al, 1990; Budetta, 2004)
Communication routes in mountainous areas are often affected by slope instability problems
Summary
Instability of rock slopes is a public safety issue, especially when its effects involve important communication routes. Its disruption would mean major setbacks from a touristic and economic point of view and for rescue purposes. It crosses steep rock slopes, greatly affected by tectonics and intense fracturing. These factors, together with water infiltration and weathering, influence the stability of slopes (e.g., Crosta and Agliardi, 2003; Dorren and Seijmonsbergen, 2003; Jaboyedoff and Derron, 2005; Michoud et al, 2012). A few portions of the slopes, bordering the surveyed road segment, have wire meshes or retaining walls, while other unprotected areas are periodically subject to rockfalls, which represent a risk to vehicles and pedestrians. This research deals with a rockfall hazard assessment carried out along the unprotected slopes, through the following steps: (1) collection of historical and recent rockfall information, (2) geostructural surveys, (3) rock and slope mass rating, (4) kinematic analysis, (5) two-dimensional rockfall trajectory simulations, and (6) application of the modified Rockfall Hazard Rating System (RHRS) (Pierson et al, 1990; Budetta, 2004)
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