Table of Contents

Foreword xiii

Introduction xvii

Chapter 1. Geophysical Detection and Characterization of Discontinuities in Rock Slopes 1
Jacques DEPARIS, Denis JONGMANS, Stéphane GARAMBOIS, Clara LÉVY, Laurent BAILLET and Ombeline MERIC

1.1. Introduction 1

1.2. Geophysical parameters and methods 2

1.3. Applications 19

1.4. Conclusions 31

1.5. Acknowledgments 32

1.6. Bibliography 33

Chapter 2. Remote Sensing and Monitoring Techniques for the Characterization of Rock Mass Deformation and Change Detection 39
Marc-Henri DERRON, Michel JABOYEDOFF, Andrea PEDRAZZINI, Clément MICHOUD and Thierry VILLEMIN

2.1. Introduction 39

2.2. Main issues 40

2.3. Investigation and monitoring techniques 41

2.4. Examples of applications 48

2.5. Perspectives 57

2.6. Conclusions 58

2.7. Bibliography 58

Chapter 3. Mechanical Stability Analyses of Fractured Rock Slopes 67
Véronique MERRIEN-SOUKATCHOFF, Jérôme DURIEZ, Muriel GASC-BARBIER, Félix DARVE and Frédéric-Victor DONZÉ

3.1. Introduction 67

3.2. Experimental study of rock joint behavior 68

3.3. Failure computations of rigid blocks 72

3.4. Overview of different stress-strain analyses 86

3.5. An advanced stress-strain analysis of failure 92

3.6. Conclusions 105

3.7. Bibliography 106

Chapter 4. Assessment of Constitutive Behaviors in Jointed Rock Masses from a DEM Perspective 113
Cédric LAMBERT and John READ

4.1. Introduction 113

4.2. Discrete Element Modeling of rock materials 115

4.3. Representation of rock discontinuities 116

4.4. Synthetic Rock Mass modeling methodology 125

4.5. Analysis of specific mechanical behaviors: case studies 132

4.6. Conclusions 138

4.7. Bibliography 138

Chapter 5. Methods for Predicting Rockfall Trajectories and Run-out Zones 143
Luuk DORREN, Ulrik DOMAAS, Kalle KRONHOLM and Vincent LABIOUSE

5.1. Introduction 143

5.2. Preparation of a rockfall trajectory study 148

5.3. Definition of the release scenarios 153

5.4. Rockfall models 154

5.5. Plausibility check / validation of model output 164

5.6. Fixing model results and translation into a readable map166

5.7. Future improvements 167

5.8. Bibliography 168

Chapter 6. Rockfall Dynamics: A Critical Review of Collision and Rebound Models 175
Franck BOURRIER and Oldrich HUNGR

6.1. Introduction 175

6.2. Physical processes associated with collision and rebound 175

6.3. Review of rebound models 181

6.4. Perspectives and conclusions 203

6.5. Bibliography 203

Chapter 7. Rockfall Hazard Zoning for Land Use Planning 211
Vincent LABIOUSE and Jacopo Maria ABBRUZZESE

7.1. Introduction 211

7.2. Rockfall zoning for urban development planning 212

7.3. Zoning methodologies at the regional/valley scale 222

7.4. Zoning methodologies at the local scale 224

7.5. Sources of uncertainties and differences in hazard zoning results 237

7.6. Implications of zoning results in land use planning 243

7.7. Conclusions 247

7.8. Acknowledgments 249

7.9. Bibliography 249

Chapter 8. Rockfall Quantitative Risk Assessment 255
Jordi COROMINAS and Olga MAVROULI

8.1. Introduction 255

8.2. Objectives of the QRA 261

8.3. Assessment of the rockfall risk components 266

8.4. Examples of rockfall risk 290

8.5. Bibliography 296

Chapter 9. Multi-scale Analysis of an Innovative Flexible Rockfall Barrier 303
Ayman TRAD, Ali LIMAM, David BERTRAND and Philippe ROBIT

9.1. Introduction 303

9.2. Presentation of rockfall protection nets 304

9.3. Presentation of tools used for the numerical simulation 306

9.4. Characterization of the net 308

9.5. Characterization of the energy dissipators 321

9.6. Full scale test on the barrier 328

9.7. Conclusion and perspectives 340

9.8. Bibliography 340

Chapter 10. A New Design Method for Rockfall Shelters Covered by Granular Layers 343
Francesco CALVETTI and Claudio DI PRISCO

10.1. Definition of the impact phenomenon 343

10.2. Real scale experiments 345

10.3. An uncoupled approach for the definition of impact actions 359

10.4. Conclusions 371

10.5. Acknowledgments 372

10.6. Bibliography 372

Chapter 11. Design Procedure for a Three-Layer Absorbing System in Rockfall Protection Galleries 375
Norimitsu KISHI and Hisashi KON-NO

11.1. Introduction 375

11.2. Standard impact design formula for sand cushion 376

11.3. Absorbing performance of sand cushion and TLAS 379

11.4. Design concept for TLAS 383

11.5. Estimate of impact energy transmitted to EPS bottom layer 386

11.6. Design of reinforced concrete core slab 387

11.7. Estimate of required thickness of EPS bottom layer 388

11.8. Estimate of impact force transmitted to gallery roof slab 390

11.9. Verification of proposed design procedure 390

11.10. Conclusion 390

11.11. Bibliography 392

Chapter 12. Ground Reinforced Embankments for Rockfall Protection: From Real Scale Tests to Numerical Modeling 393
Daniele PEILA

12.1. Introduction 393

12.2. Full-scale tests on embankments 397

12.3. Numerical modeling of ground reinforced embankments 411

12.4. Conclusions 422

12.5. Acknowledgments 422

12.6. Bibliography 422

List of Authors 427

Index 433

About the Author

Stéphane Lambert is a Research Engineer at CEMAGREF, Grenoble, France. His research are mainly on protection structures, natural hazards and geosynthetics.

François Nicot is a Researcher at CEMAGREF, Grenoble, France, and an Executive Member of the International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (ISSMGE). His contributions mainly concern the mechanical behavior of granular geomaterials. He is also Editor-in-chief of the European Journal of Environmental and Civil Engineering.