Practical studies on rockfall simulation by DDA

Abstract In this paper, simulations of real rockfall by discontinuous deformation analysis (DDA) are conducted. In the simulations, the energy losses of rockfall are categorized into three types, i.e. the loss by friction, the loss by collision, and the loss by vegetation. Modeling of the energy loss using absolute parameters is conducted by the DDA method. Moreover, in order to verify the applicability and validity of the proposed DDA, field tests on rockfall and corresponding simulations of rockfall tests by DDA are performed. The simulated results of rockfall velocity and rockfall jumping height agree well with those obtained from the field tests. Therefore, the new technique properly considers the energy-absorption ability of slope based on vegetation condition and shape of the rockfall, and provides a new method for the assessment and preventive design of rockfall.