Impacts on Embankments, Rigid and Flexible Barriers Against Rockslides: Model Experiments vs. DEM Simulations

Abstract

As a result of climate change, rockfalls and rock avalanches as well as landslides lead to an increasing hazard for settlement areas and infrastructures. The hazards of such mass movements mean that numerous protective structures must be planned and built. In addition to building such constructions, the refurbishment of existing protective structures is also playing an increasingly important role. Some of these protective structures are rigid structures consisting of concrete and/or steel elements. Due to the difficult accessibility, flexible net constructions are often considered. Embankment constructions are normally erected to protect against large mass movements. The choice of the right type of construction is based not only on geotechnical and geographical conditions, but also on the occurring energies and the impact of rockslides on the protective structure. In this study, small-scale laboratory experiments with different protective structures are presented. Rigid and flexible structures as well as reinforced embankments are investigated. Based on the results of the experiments, the impacts and deformations are recalculated numerically using the discrete element method (DEM). From the small-scale laboratory experiments and numerical simulations, the differences regarding the construction type of the protective structure can be investigated. An essential main point concerns the relationship between the flexibility of the barrier and the total impact load. The presented work is limited to the investigation of strongly fragmented gravitational mass movements such as rock avalanches.