Numerical Simulation of Flexible Rockfall Protection Systems

Today's flexible rockfall protection barriers have reached a high development stage. An extension of their maximum rockfall retaining capacity of momentary 3000 kJ requires a super-proportional effort. Corresponding numerical simulations now enable a more efficient development or optimization of new types due to a reduced number of expensive prototype field tests. In addition, the use of software provides the possibility to simulate projected barriers considering special load cases, which cannot be reproduced in field tests, as well as special geometrical boundary conditions for individual sceneries. The developed software FARO combines new approaches in simulating the single barrier components through discrete elements with main focus on the loosely connected net rings and the suspension ropes. The falling rock is modeled as rigid body using a special contact algorithm for the interaction with the barrier. This paper presents the numerical background of the developed software as well as its application. The quality of the obtained results is documented through comparisons with full-scale rockfall tests.