The maximum impact force from a rock-fall for rock-shed slab design

This study estimates the maximum impact force for a rock-shed slab in a rockfall. A discrete element program is calibrated using small-scale physical experiments and is then used to model the movement for a large scale rock-fall and to measure the impact forces. The results from the small-scale experiments show that the maximum impact forces are significantly affected by the mass of the rock-fall, the height from which the rock falls and the falling process. The full-scale numerical modeling for a field case confirms these experimental results and demonstrates the effect of rock-fall modes and the contact stiffness between the rock and the rock-shed. This study provides guidelines for the design of rock-shed structures where there are large rock-fall problems.