Back Analysis of Rockfall Trajectory and its Parameters

Abstract

Every year, China suffers greatly from economic losses caused by rockfall hazards. The key to effectively control rockfall hazards is to obtain an accurate rockfall trajectory. However, not only is rockfall trajectory complex and unable to be described accurately in mathematical formula, but basic parameters influencing its movement are also unable to be measured directly. Therefore, the back analysis method combining laboratory rockfall simulation test with computer numerical simulation is adopted to study rockfall trajectory and its basic parameters. The results show that the method can not only get basic parameters of rockfall trajectory such as coefficient of restitution and angle of frication, but also precisely deduce true rockfall trajectory, which can provide help in effectively controlling rockfall hazards.