rockfall BLOG

Lucky and unlucky trees

Thomas

Probability vs fate

Is more probability calculus or fate....???

 

 

 

Thomas

New Skyline in San Leo (Rimini) - Italy

Last year there was a big landslide in  San Leo nearst of Rimini -Italy.

 Probably this (belowe) is a most knowed view of rock landslide in San Leo.

 And this the most poupolar video on Youtube

 

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In recent months, I went to see the landslide and I tried to compare a side photo I took douring my trip with a photo archive from Google Street View....and the effect is interesting because it show the volume collapsed.

This is the lateral view with with old and new skyline

 Thomas

 

History of a mega blast after rockfall in South Tirol

Phone call from a blast:

Hello Thomas I'm Giacomo and on 21 January, a large rockfall occurred about 3000 cubic meters and impact a farm nearst of  Bolzano in South Tirol -IT.

On the cliffs in high above the farm was (in precarious balance) a large pillar of about 500-600 cubic meters.

On January 22, we carried out flight with helicopter to verify the situation with the geologists of the Geological Survey of Bolzano and we approved the demolition plan.

In terms of urgency we have obtained licenses for explosives in a single day.  

The dimension of pillar was:height of about 14m; width 10.5m and thickness 3.5 m; the base of the pillar was compromised and therefore it was decided to break up it to avoid the fall of  large volumes .  

The day 23 was prepared the site at the top of  pillar with scalig operation and at the same time the climbing company has started to develop holes for blasting. Since the instable volume was big we decide for small diameter holes (51mm) made ​​with portable drilling machine and depth of 4 m .

The day 24 was performed the first blast which was conducted with a strong overdose of the explosive in order to compensate for the small drilling that in some points appeared deficient for obvious safety problems (to limit the vibrations).   Around the zone was made ​​a security fence guarded by about 50 volunteer firefighters groups of Termeno (BZ) of about 400 m from the blasting point; at he end of slope we have realize a rockfall earth dam for protection of a pylon of high voltage ( interrupted at the time of the blasting ) and the farm .  

The demolition was then completed on January 27; after the first blasting we could get with more security at the bottom of pillar for load the last part of blast and explosion.

This is all...in next days will send to you some video of events

Thank you Giacomo

 By - By Thomas

Giacomo (www.geologico.it)

 Large scale video

 

Detail scale video

http://www.stol.it/Media/Videos/Intern/Tramin-Erste-Sprengungen-an-der-Grauner-Wand

 

Thomas

Big Rockfall Event in South Tirol - Italy

Unit size: firefighter

 

Thank you Mauro for information

Thomas

You moved ?

From my friend in north west Italy.

Thomas

Rockfall in Swiss-Engadina

Thomas

North Cliffs Rockfall in Cornwall

Tank you to Peter Ingraham from Golder for this incredible video and related article on theguardian.

 

Thomas

Rolling Stones in New Zeland and Height Design of Protective Measures

For many people it is difficult to understand the motion concept of rocks along the slopes, in this interesting video shot in New Zealand (Christchurch) from GNScience Chris Massey analyses rockfall hazards to assist Christchurch recovery planning and discusses many issues related to unpredictable prevents this phenomenon.

 

At 4.17 minute of the video is very interesting to observe the deviation of the block  (aprx. 40 °) respect the line of maximum slope angle ........ only for a little impact point  with a rock outcrop present on the slope.!!!!!

This is very difficult to take into account with the rockfall analisys two dimensional and probably for this type of activities the better solutions is the 3D software.

In any case for my experiences the rebounding height is much more unpredictable than the rock energy. For this reason, my assumption design of heght protection measures is based on model described belowe.

Probably can be other parameter to take in accont and in this way are welcome advice on other experiences.

 

ciaoooo

Thomas

Happy or UNhappy - Rock slide Wyoming

I do not know if the rockfall filmaker is happy or unhappy?

 

Thomas