Rockfall source areas identification at local scale by integrating discontinuity-based threshold slope angle and rockfall trajectory analyses

• Published in: Engineering geology 2023-02, Vol.313, p.106993, Article 106993
• Main Authors: Yan, Jianhua, Chen, Jianping, Tan, Chun, Zhang, Yansong, Liu, Yongqiang, Zhao, Xiaohan, Wang, Qing
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 3D modelling; China; Discontinuity spacing; photogrammetry; Probabilistic approach; railroads; risk; Rockfall sources identification; rockfalls; Threshold slope angle; unmanned aerial vehicles
• ISSN: 0013-7952; 1872-6917
• DOI: 10.1016/j.enggeo.2023.106993

Rockfall source areas identification of high steep fractured rock slope is a challenging task for hazard mitigation. Considering this difficulty, a new method integrating discontinuity-based threshold slope angle and rockfall trajectory analyses is introduced in this study and applied to a railway bridge in China. First, abundant discontinuity data are collected by means of the modern unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) digital photogrammetry technique. Then, a threshold slope angle used to delineate rockfall-prone areas is comprehensively determined by probabilistic kinematic and block theory analyses. Next, physically based rockfall trajectory simulation with consideration of mean block size is used to distinguish the hazard level of each release point. Finally, rockfall sources causing moderate and high risks to the train tunnel entrance at the base of high steep fractured rock slope are determined using a semiquantitative risk matrix approach. The final rockfall source map can provide a quantitative reference for hazard mitigation. At the end of this paper, some issues associated with the proposed approach are discussed, such as parameter importance analysis of threshold slope angle, comparison between the two probabilistic approaches and uncertainties in rockfall source areas identification. •A method for rockfall sources identification of jointed rock slope is proposed.•This method integrates threshold slope angle and rockfall trajectory analyses.•Probabilistic approaches are developed to determine a final threshold slope angle.•A multiscanline method is presented to determine the volume of a launched block.•Trajectory dense and sparse areas are used to distinguish different hazard levels.