Simulation of full-scale rockfall tests with a fragmentation model

In this paper, we present the upgraded version of RockGIS, a stochastic program for the numerical simulation of rockfalls and their fragmentation, based on a fractal model. The code has been improved to account for a range of fragmentation scenarios, depending on the impact conditions. In the simula...

Descripción completa

Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Matas Casado, Gerard|||0000-0003-4792-3569, Lantada, Nieves|||0000-0002-9974-6915, Corominas Dulcet, Jordi|||0000-0001-5049-7201, Gili Ripoll, José Antonio|||0000-0003-4718-2545, Ruiz Carulla, Roger|||0000-0003-0753-4745, Prades Valls, Albert|||0000-0002-0164-1681
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2020
País:España
Institución:Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC)
Repositorio:UPCommons. Portal del coneixement obert de la UPC
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:upcommons.upc.edu:2117/327884
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/2117/327884
https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/geosciences10050168
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Rockslides
Rockfall simulator
Fragmentation
Fractal model
Calibration
quarry
Esllavissades
Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Enginyeria civil::Geotècnia::Mecànica de roques
Descripción
Sumario:In this paper, we present the upgraded version of RockGIS, a stochastic program for the numerical simulation of rockfalls and their fragmentation, based on a fractal model. The code has been improved to account for a range of fragmentation scenarios, depending on the impact conditions. In the simulation, the parameters of the fractal fragmentation model that define the sizes of the generated fragments were computed at each impact according to the kinematic conditions. The performance of the upgraded code was verified and validated by real-scale rockfall tests performed in a quarry. The tests consisted of the release of 21 limestone blocks. For each release, the size and spatial distribution of the fragments generated by the impacts were measured by hand and from orthophotos taken via drone flights. The trajectories of the blocks and the resulting fragments were simulated with the code and calibrated with both the volume distribution and the runout distances of the fragments. Finally, as all the relevant rockfall parameters involved were affected by strong uncertainty and spatial variability, a parametric analysis was carried out and is discussed.