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Rockfall-induced block propagation on a soil slope, northern Italy

  • Original Article
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Environmental Geology

Abstract

This paper reports the field evidence and the kinematical study of the motion of two blocks (A and B) mobilised by a rockfall in Lavone (Valtrompia, northern Italy) on 14 February 1987. The two sequences of impact marks left by the blocks on the ground surface were measured and the lithostratigraphical features of the debris slope were surveyed. On the basis of the field-collected input data, several computer simulations were carried out to calculate the coefficients of restitution (E) satisfying the trajectory conditions. The computed output values show that rebound trajectories require high coefficients of restitution (0.8 ≤ E ≤ 0.9). Back-calculated impact velocities range from 9.2 to 19.8 m/s. Trajectory heights vary from 0 to 2.4 m above the slope surface. Block trajectories differ considerably according to the circumstances of initial air projection, i.e. to initial rebound angle (αr). The calculated values of (αr) denote a considerable range (36°), emphasising the random nature of this parameter. The described case-history shows that rockfall computer analyses can be an effective tool to describe the bouncing propagation of single blocks but care must be taken in choosing the restitution coefficient E and the geometrical parameters of initial air projections.

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Abbreviations

α:

angle of initial block air projection (°)

αi :

angle of block impact trajectory compared to slope surface (°)

αr :

angle of initial block rebound compared to horizontal (°)

αu :

angle of initial block rebound compared to slope surface (°)

αr*:

critical angle of initial projection determining maximum rebound length (°)

β:

slope angle (°)

η:

normal to slope surface

θn :

incidence angle of block impact (°)

θr :

reflection angle of block rebound (°)

ω:

block rotation velocity (m/s)

E :

coefficient of restitution on impact

E n :

ratio between the normal components of the rebounding and impacting velocities

E t :

ratio between the tangential components of the rebounding and impacting velocities

E*:

limit value of the restitution coefficient for a steady rebound propagation

l :

block impact mark length (cm)

L :

block rebound length (m)

R :

reaction force of slope material to impacting block (kN)

R n :

normal component of reaction force (kN)

R t :

tangential component of reaction force (kN)

t 0−n :

time of block-slope interaction stage (s)

V 0 :

initial block velocity

V i :

block impact velocity (m/s)

V r :

block rebound velocity (m/s)

V xy :

block translation velocity in the XOY plane (m/s)

z :

block impact mark depth (cm)

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  1. Dipartimento di Georisorse e Territorio, Università degli Studi di Udine, via Cotonificio 114, 33100, Udine, Italy

    Paolo Paronuzzi

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Paronuzzi, P. Rockfall-induced block propagation on a soil slope, northern Italy. Environ Geol 58, 1451–1466 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-008-1648-7

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