RAMMS::Rockfall
RAMMS::Rockfall applies a novel contact-algorithm to model rockfalls, as opposed to most other rockfall simulation programs relying solely on restitution coefficients. The model accounts for real rock shapes, computing their runout trajectory over 3D terrain, including their jump heights, velocity, rotational velocity, rotational and total kinetic energy. A new scarring mechanisms for soft compactable soils is used. All possible modes of rockfall motion (jumping, rolling and sliding) are deterministically simulated. Dynamics of single trajectories can be individually inspected or sets of multiple trajectories can be statistically analyzed.
Theory
The new RAMMS::ROCKFALL model employs a hybrid approach combining rigid body mechanics with scarring mechanisms for soft compactable soils. It permits an explicit description of arbitrary three dimensional polyhedral bodies, including natural rock-shapes. Introducing real rock-shapes into rockfall modelling enables a better inclusion of the natural variability of rock-shapes and sizes generated from differing geological settings. With this we come closer to modelling the true nature of rockfall runout behaviour, integrating rock-shape and the release kinematics characteristic of site specific rockfall hazards.
The theoretical framework of the new RAMMS::ROCKFALL model is described in full detail in Lu et al, 2019, Leine et al, 2014, and Leine et al., 2021. Below, the most important features are highlighted.
The new energy dissipation model is based on the work energy theorem for rigid bodies impacting compactable soft soils.
Deadwood
The effect of lying deadwood is largely ignored because adequate modelling instruments were missing. Not anymore!
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RAMMS::Rockfall
Publications
Key ROCKFALL Publications
Leine, R.I.; Capobianco, G.; Bartelt, P.; Christen, M.; Caviezel, A., 2021: Stability of rigid body motion through an extended intermediate axis theorem: application to rockfall simulation. Multibody System Dynamics, 52: 431-455. doi: 10.1007/s11044-021-09792-y
Caviezel, A.; Ringenbach, A.; Demmel, S.E.; Dinneen, C.E.; Krebs, N.; Bühler, Y.; Christen, M.; Meyrat, G.; Stoffel, A.; Hafner, E.; Eberhard, L.A.; Von Rickenbach, D.; Simmler, K.; Mayer, P.; Niklaus, P.S.; Birchler, T.; Aebi, T.; Cavigelli, L.; Schaffner, M.; … Bartelt, P., 2021: The relevance of rock shape over mass – implications for rockfall hazard assessments. Nature Communications, 12: 5546 (9 pp.). doi: 10.1038/s41467-021-25794-y
Lu, G.; Ringenbach, A.; Caviezel, A.; Sanchez, M.; Christen, M.; Bartelt, P., 2021: Mitigation effects of trees on rockfall hazards: does rock shape matter?. Landslides, 18: 59-77. doi: 10.1007/s10346-020-01418-2
Lu, G.; Caviezel, A.; Christen, M.; Demmel, S.E.; Ringenbach, A.; Bühler, Y.; Dinneen, C.E.; Gerber, W.; Bartelt, P., 2019: Modelling rockfall impact with scarring in compactable soils. Landslides, 16: 2353-2367. doi: 10.1007/s10346-019-01238-z
Caviezel, A.; Demmel, S.E.; Ringenbach, A.; Bühler, Y.; Lu, G.; Christen, M.; Dinneen, C.E.; Eberhard, L.A.; Von Rickenbach, D.; Bartelt, P., 2019: Reconstruction of four-dimensional rockfall trajectories using remote sensing and rock-based accelerometers and gyroscopes. Earth Surface Dynamics, 7, 1: 199-210. doi: 10.5194/esurf-7-199-2019
Caviezel, A.; Schaffner, M.; Cavigelli, L.; Niklaus, P.; Bühler, Y.; Bartelt, P.; Magno, M.; Benini, L., 2018: Design and evaluation of a low-power sensor device for induced rockfall experiments. IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement, 67, 4: 767-779. doi: 10.1109/TIM.2017.2770799
Leine, R.I.; Schweizer, A.; Christen, M.; Glover, J.; Bartelt, P.; Gerber, W., 2014: Simulation of rockfall trajectories with consideration of rock shape. Multibody System Dynamics, 32, 2: 241-271. doi: 10.1007/s11044-013-9393-4
ROCKFALL Publication List
Borner J., Bartelt P. (2023) Calculating impact pressures in numerical avalanche and rockfall models. In L. Zdravkovic, S. Kontoe, D. M. G. Taborda, & A. Tsiampousi (Eds.), Proceedings 10th NUMGE 2023. 10th European conference on numerical methods in geotechnical engineering. sine loco: International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (ISSMGE). (6 pp.). doi:10.53243/NUMGE2023-370 Institutional Repository DORA
Ringenbach A., Bebi P., Bartelt P., Rigling A., Christen M., Bühler Y., … Caviezel A. (2023) Shape still matters: rockfall interactions with trees and deadwood in a mountain forest uncover a new facet of rock shape dependency. Earth Surf. Dyn. 11(4), 779-801. doi:10.5194/esurf-11-779-2023 Institutional Repository DORA
Ringenbach A., Stihl E., Bühler Y., Bebi P., Bartelt P., Rigling A., … Caviezel A. (2022) Full-scale experiments to examine the role of deadwood in rockfall dynamics in forests. Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci. 22(7), 2433-2443. doi:10.5194/nhess-22-2433-2022 Institutional Repository DORA
Ringenbach A., Bebi P., Bartelt P., Rigling A., Christen M., Bühler Y., … Caviezel A. (2022) Modeling deadwood for rockfall mitigation assessments in windthrow areas. Earth Surf. Dyn. 10(6), 1303-1319. doi:10.5194/esurf-10-1303-2022 Institutional Repository DORA
Leine, R.I.; Capobianco, G.; Bartelt, P.; Christen, M.; Caviezel, A., 2021: Stability of rigid body motion through an extended intermediate axis theorem: application to rockfall simulation. Multibody System Dynamics, 52: 431-455. doi: 10.1007/s11044-021-09792-y
Caviezel, A.; Ringenbach, A.; Demmel, S.E.; Dinneen, C.E.; Krebs, N.; Bühler, Y.; Christen, M.; Meyrat, G.; Stoffel, A.; Hafner, E.; Eberhard, L.A.; Von Rickenbach, D.; Simmler, K.; Mayer, P.; Niklaus, P.S.; Birchler, T.; Aebi, T.; Cavigelli, L.; Schaffner, M.; … Bartelt, P., 2021: The relevance of rock shape over mass – implications for rockfall hazard assessments. Nature Communications, 12: 5546 (9 pp.). doi: 10.1038/s41467-021-25794-y
Lu, G.; Ringenbach, A.; Caviezel, A.; Sanchez, M.; Christen, M.; Bartelt, P., 2021: Mitigation effects of trees on rockfall hazards: does rock shape matter?. Landslides, 18: 59-77. doi: 10.1007/s10346-020-01418-2
Sanchez, M.A.; Caviezel, A., 2020: Full-scale testing of rockfall nets in real terrain. Results of tests at Chant Sura: 13th September and 4th October, 2019. WSL Berichte, 97. 81 p.
Ringenbach, A.; Caviezel, A.; Demmel, S.E.; Lu, G.; Bühler, Y.; Christen, M.; Bartelt, P.; Meier, L., 2020: Three-dimensional trajectory reconstruction of induced single block rockfall experiments. In: Da Fontoura, S.A.B.; Rocca, R.J.; Pavón Mendoza, J.F. (eds), 2020: Rock Mechanics for Natural Resources and Infrastructure Development – Full Papers. Proceedings. 14th international concress on rock mechanics and rock engineering (ISRM 2019), Foz do Iguassu, Brazil. 2887-2894.
Wendeler, C.; Lanter, A.; Lu, G.; Caviezel, A.; Ringenbach, A.; Bartelt, P., 2020: New rockfall testing method of flexible rockfall barriers. In: Da Fontoura, S.A.B.; Rocca, R.J.; Pavón Mendoza, J.F. (eds), 2020: Rock Mechanics for Natural Resources and Infrastructure Development – Full Papers. Proceedings. 14th international concress on rock mechanics and rock engineering (ISRM 2019), Foz do Iguassu, Brazil. 3416-3423.
Caviezel, A.; Lu, G.; Demmel, S.E.; Ringenbach, A.; Bühler, Y.; Christen, M.; Bartelt, P., 2019: RAMMS::ROCKFALL – a modern 3-dimensional simulation tool calibrated on real world data. In: 2019: 53rd US rock mechanics/geomechanics symposium. 53rd US rock mechanics/geomechanics symposium, New York, USA. ARMA 19-223 (8 pp.).
Caviezel, A.; Demmel, S.E.; Ringenbach, A.; Bühler, Y.; Lu, G.; Christen, M.; Dinneen, C.E.; Eberhard, L.A.; Von Rickenbach, D.; Bartelt, P., 2019: Reconstruction of four-dimensional rockfall trajectories using remote sensing and rock-based accelerometers and gyroscopes. Earth Surface Dynamics, 7, 1: 199-210. doi: 10.5194/esurf-7-199-2019
Lu, G.; Caviezel, A.; Christen, M.; Demmel, S.E.; Ringenbach, A.; Bühler, Y.; Dinneen, C.E.; Gerber, W.; Bartelt, P., 2019: Modelling rockfall impact with scarring in compactable soils. Landslides, 16: 2353-2367. doi: 10.1007/s10346-019-01238-z
Caviezel, A.; Gerber, W., 2018: Brief communication: measuring rock decelerations and rotation changes during short-duration ground impacts. Natural Hazards and Earth System Science, 18, 11: 3145-3151. doi: 10.5194/nhess-18-3145-2018
Lu, G.; Caviezel, A.; Christen, M.; Ringenbach, A.; Meyrat, G.; Bartelt, P., 2019: Non-smooth mechanics modelling of rock-tree and rock-forest interactions. In: Papadrakakis, M.; Fragiadakis, M. (eds), 2019: COMPDYN 2019. 7th international conference on computational methods in structural dynamics and earthquake engineering. Proceedings. COMPDYN 2019. 7th ECCOMAS thematic conference on computational methods in structural dynamics and earthquake engineering, Crete, Greece. 1612-1629.
Caviezel, A.; Schaffner, M.; Cavigelli, L.; Niklaus, P.; Bühler, Y.; Bartelt, P.; Magno, M.; Benini, L., 2018: Design and evaluation of a low-power sensor device for induced rockfall experiments. IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement, 67, 4: 767-779. doi: 10.1109/TIM.2017.2770799
Gerber, W.; Caviezel, A., 2018: Measurement and analysis of ground contacts during rockfall events. In: Cardoso, A.S.; Borges, J.L.; Costa, P.A.; Gomes, A.T.; Marques, J.C.; Vieira, C.S. (eds), 2018: Numerical methods in geotechnical engineering IX. 9th European conference on numerical methods in geotechnical engineering (NUMGE 2018), Porto. 149-154.
Caviezel, A.; Bühler, Y.; Lu, G.; Christen, M.; Bartelt, P., 2018: Experimental validation of numerical rockfall trajectory models. In: Cardoso, A.S.; Borges, J.L.; Costa, P.A.; Gomes, A.T.; Marques, J.C.; Vieira, C.S. (eds), 2018: Numerical methods in geotechnical engineering IX. 9th European conference on numerical methods in geotechnical engineering (NUMGE 2018), Porto. 875-883.
Eichenberger, V.; McArdell, B.; Christen, M.; Trappmann, D.; Stoffel, M., 2017: Wenn Baumwunden dazu beitragen, Steinschlagmodelle weiterzuentwickeln. Schweizerische Zeitschrift für Forstwesen, 168, 2: 84-91. doi: 10.3188/szf.2017.0084
Niklaus, P.; Birchler, T.; Aebi, T.; Schaffner, M.; Cavigelli, L.; Caviezel, A.; Magno, M.; Benini, L., 2017: StoneNode: a low-power sensor device for induced rockfall experiments. In: 2017: 2017 IEEE sensors applications symposium (SAS). 2017 IEEE sensors applications symposium (SAS), Glassboro, NJ, USA. 16807856 (6 pp.). doi: 10.1109/SAS.2017.7894081
Gerber, W.; Caviezel, A., 2017: Diversity of the results from drop weight tests. In: Corominas, J.; Moya, J.; Janeras, M. (eds), 2017: RocExs 2017. 6th interdisciplinary workshop on rockfall protection. 6th interdisciplinary workshop on rockfall protection (RocExs 2017), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. 63-66.
Caviezel, A.; Christen, M.; Bühler, Y.; Bartelt, P., 2017: Calibration methods for numerical rockfall models based on experimental data. In: Corominas, J.; Moya, J.; Janeras, M. (eds), 2017: RocExs 2017. 6th interdisciplinary workshop on rockfall protection. 6th interdisciplinary workshop on rockfall protection (RocExs 2017), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. 59-62.
Leine, R.I.; Schweizer, A.; Christen, M.; Glover, J.; Bartelt, P.; Gerber, W., 2014: Simulation of rockfall trajectories with consideration of rock shape. Multibody System Dynamics, 32, 2: 241-271. doi: 10.1007/s11044-013-9393-4
Glover, J.; Denk, M.; Bourrier, F.; Volkwein, A.; Gerber, W., 2012: Measuring the kinetic energy dissipation effects of rock fall attenuating systems with video analysis. In: Koboltschnig, G.; Hübl, J.; Braun, J. (eds), 2012: 12th congress INTERPRAEVENT 2012. 23 to 26 April 2012. Grenoble, France. Conference proceedings “Protection of living space from natural hazards”. 12th congress INTERPRAEVENT 2012, Grenoble, France, April 23-26, 2012. 151-160.
