Eurocode 7 and Rock Engineering Design: The Case of Rockfall Protection Barriers

Vagnon, Federico; Bonetto, Sabrina Maria Rita; Ferrero, Anna María; Harrison, John P.; Umili, Gessica

doi:10.3390/geosciences10080305

Cited by 13 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…As a result, the uncertainties on the geometric properties of discontinuities have to be con sidered by alternative methods, such as sensitivity analyses, in the same way as when no reliabilitybased methods are used, or even using probabilistic descriptions of the discon tinuities and partial factors for the actions and the strengths [24] und Smith und Walter [25]. From a rock engineering perspective, a key challenge for the rock engineer in using calculations may be to define the hazardous ground behaviour as a calculable limit state, as discussed by Vagnon et al [27]. Moreover, concerning the partial factor method specifically, theoretical concerns have been raised regarding its ability to yield consistent safety margins.…”

Section: Comments On Verification Using Calculation For Rock Engineer...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Felsbauplanung mit dem geotechnischen Werkzeugkasten von morgen: Eurocode 7 – Allgemeine Regeln (EN 1997‐1:2024)

Walter,

Labiouse,

Lamas

et al. 2023

Geomechanics and Tunnelling

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The second generation of Eurocode 7 aims at covering ground, including both soil and rock. Current practice of ground engineering forms the basis, and the aim is to include rock engineering, improving ease of use, harmonization of regulations, and covering new developments. This paper deals with EN 1997 part 1 addressing the general rules of geotechnical design, connected to EN 1990, the basis of structural and geotechnical design, and parts 2 and 3 of EN 1997. The design process from ground investigation to the verification of limit states is illustrated with a focus on rock engineering. The following topics are dealt with in more detail: Geotechnical Categories: They are now based on Consequence Classes and newly introduced Geotechnical Complexity Classes. A limit state design to be sufficient has to be combined with other checks depending on these classes. Replacement of the Design Approaches of the current Eurocode 7: Ultimate limit states will be verified by a combination of Verification Cases with partial factors on actions and action effects, and sets of partial factors on ground properties and resistances, respectively. Application of numerical methods, where a ULS‐verification with two sets of partial factors is defined. Use of probabilistic methods in design by calculation, especially appropriate in cases where properties of discontinuities govern the design. Practice of the Observational Method, including design variants and regulations about their choice.

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Section: Comments On Verification Using Calculation For Rock Engineer...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Felsbauplanung mit dem geotechnischen Werkzeugkasten von morgen: Eurocode 7 – Allgemeine Regeln (EN 1997‐1:2024)

Walter,

Labiouse,

Lamas

et al. 2023

Geomechanics and Tunnelling

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“…As a result, heuristic techniques are usually used in the selection of some inputs. In areas where a fire has occurred, these estimates are no longer valid because of the effect that the fire may have had on the source areas and propagation zone, and hence the changes that may occur in the volume of the rock block and the rockfall trajectories [107][108][109].…”

Section: Degradation and Obsolescence Of Protective Measuresmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Wildfire on Rockfall Occurrence: A Review through Actual Cases in Spain

et al. 2021

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Understanding processes and conditions that lead to rockfalls during and after a wildfire in different geological contexts is crucial since this phenomenon is one of the major hazards in mountainous regions across Europe. Spain is one of the European countries with the highest rate of wildfires, and rockfalls cause high economic and social impact, with many fatalities every year. The increase of rockfalls during and after wildfires is connected with the merging of different factors, not only in the detached area but also in the propagation and potentially affected area. When wildfire occurred, many actions take place: changes in the mechanical conditions of the rocks, the loss of protective capacity from vegetation, the effect induced by firefighting activities and/or the impact by the high temperatures in the adopted protective measures. After the wildfire, there is an increase in frequency and intensity of rockfalls in the burned area, causing a major impact of rockfalls on not only road networks and built-up areas but also people living. Additionally, the removal of vegetation by wildfires causes an increase in the risk perception, related not only to detached blocks but also to the general appearance of the rock mass. In this review, the main factors that influence the occurrence of rockfalls after a wildfire are analyzed, and three actual case studies in Spain are presented to support the variety of conclusions obtained.

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“…The investigations cover effect of discontinuity persistence, reliability analysis of 3D wedge mechanisms, probabilistic rock slope analysis, Monte Carlo simulations, system reliability involving multiple failure modes, response surface method, distinct element method and random set theory, determination of Coulomb shear strength parameters from the generalized Hoek-Brown criterion, probabilistic analysis using point estimate methods, Barton-Bandis failure criterion, probabilistic characterization of rock mass from limited data, and other worthy issues. In addition, Vagnon et al (2020a) applied FORM and RBD for debris flow barriers and demonstrated the applicability and limitations of EC7 for these rock engineering structures, and Vagnon et al (2020b) investigated the complementarity of the RBD approach within EC7 principles by analyzing the design of a slope subjected to rockfall.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Context-Dependent Parameter Sensitivities in Rock Slope Stability

Low

2022

Rock Mech Rock Eng

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Context-dependent sensitivities of parameters and reliability-based design (RBD) of rock slopes are the subjects of this paper. The similarities and differences between the design points in RBD and those of partial factor design methods are discussed. It is demonstrated that partial factors provided by the design point of the first-order reliability method (FORM) can provide case-specific insights and guidance to partial factor design methods like Eurocode 7 (EC7) and the load and resistance factor design (LRFD). It is suggested that conducting RBD-via-FORM in tandem with partial factor designs is more illuminating and meaningful than calibration of partial factors of parameters which can be sensitive in one case but insensitive in another case. Three cases are analysed probabilistically with respect to plane sliding in rock slopes with one or more discontinuities. In the first two cases, different deterministic solution procedures are used for the single block and two-block mechanisms, for comparison with stereographic projection method and closed form equation, respectively, prior to extending the cases into RBD. The third case involves a failed slope in a limestone quarry, analysed using FORM in this paper, for comparison with Monte Carlo simulation.

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Eurocode 7 and Rock Engineering Design: The Case of Rockfall Protection Barriers

Cited by 13 publications

References 25 publications

Felsbauplanung mit dem geotechnischen Werkzeugkasten von morgen: Eurocode 7 – Allgemeine Regeln (EN 1997‐1:2024)

Felsbauplanung mit dem geotechnischen Werkzeugkasten von morgen: Eurocode 7 – Allgemeine Regeln (EN 1997‐1:2024)

Effects of Wildfire on Rockfall Occurrence: A Review through Actual Cases in Spain

Context-Dependent Parameter Sensitivities in Rock Slope Stability

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