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3D Jointed Rock Mass Structural Analysis and Evaluation of Rockfall...
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3D Jointed Rock Mass Structural Analysis and Evaluation of Rockfall Potential

A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Earth Sciences".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 August 2021) | Viewed by 13067

Special Issue Editors

Dr. George Papathanassiou

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Civil Engineering, Polytechnic School, Democritus University of Thrace, 67100 Xanthi, Greece
Interests: evaluation of liquefaction potential; geohazards; engineering geology; landslide susceptibility and hazard; rock fall hazard; UAV-based survey of geohazards
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Vassilis Marinos

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Laboratory of Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology, School of Geology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH), 546124 Thessaloniki, Greece
Interests: natural hazards; landslides; rockfalls; UAVs; LiDAR; rock mass classification; tunnels; weak rocks
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Charalampos Saroglou

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Dept. of Geotechnics, School of Civil Engineering National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) 9 Iroon Polytechniou Str., 15780 Zographou, Greece
Interests: The engineering behavior of rocks and rockmasses, weak rocks and complex formations; the engineering geology of major infrastructure works, tunnelling and geohazard risk assessment (landslides and rockfalls)

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

It is our pleasure to announce the opening of a new Special Issue in the Applied Sciences Journal.

The main topic of the Special Issue is the application of new technologies, i.e., UAV-SfM and LiDAR, on the characterization of rock mass and the evaluation of rockfall potential. At present, a 3D model of a rock slope is frequently utilized to analyze rock mass in order to evaluate the rock fall hazard. More specifically, the development of a 3D model is considered as core data to define the characteristics of the discontinuity sets and, particularly, to extract information regarding the orientation and spacing of discontinuities based either on semi-automated or manual procedures. Having assessed this information, a reliable evaluation of rock fall potential can be realized, aiming to highlight likely-to-fail areas on a rock slope.

Furthermore, images of a slope face, acquired based on a UAV and/or LiDAR survey before and after the occurrence of a rock fall, are frequently used in order i) to detect the location of the detached blocks and ii) to back-analyze their trajectory. Quantitative estimation of both parameters is crucial for a reliable evaluation of a rock fall hazard and risk.

Thus, this Special Issue is aimed at exploring recent advances in the field of 3D rock mass analysis and evaluation of rockfall hazard. We would like to invite contributions related to the development and data processing of a 3D model of a rock slope, as well as papers focusing on the application of new technologies for acquiring images before and after a rock fall. Studies on powerful approaches for the geotechnical rock mass classification using photogrammetry point clouds through automated or semi-automated methods are strongly welcomed.

Dr. George Papathanassiou
Dr. Vassilis Marinos
Dr. Charalampos Saroglou 
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Applied Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Geohazards and new technologies
  • Defining orientation and spacing of discontinuities
  • Change detection on rock slopes
  • Evaluation of rockfall potential
  • Rock mass characterization, classification based on UAV and/ or LiDAR-developed 3D model
  • Documentation of rockfall case studies

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

33 pages, 11194 KiB  
Article
UAV-Based Evaluation of Rockfall Hazard in the Cultural Heritage Area of Kipinas Monastery, Greece
by Ioakeim Konstantinidis, Vassilis Marinos and George Papathanassiou
Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(19), 8946; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11198946 - 25 Sep 2021
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2647
Abstract
Rockfall events consist one of the most hazardous geological phenomena in mountainous landscapes, with the potential to turn catastrophic if they occur near an anthropogenic environment. Rockfall hazard and risk assessments are recognized as some of the most challenging surveys among the geoengineering [...] Read more.
Rockfall events consist one of the most hazardous geological phenomena in mountainous landscapes, with the potential to turn catastrophic if they occur near an anthropogenic environment. Rockfall hazard and risk assessments are recognized as some of the most challenging surveys among the geoengineering society, due to the urgent need for accurate foresight of likely rockfall areas, together with their magnitude and impact. In recent decades, with the introduction of remote sensing technologies, such as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, the construction of qualitative and quantitative analyses for rockfall events became more precise. This study primarily aims to take advantage of the UAV’s capabilities, in order to produce a detailed hazard and risk assessment via the proposition of a new semi-quantitative rating system. The area of application is located in the cultural heritage area of Kipinas Monastery in Epirus, Greece, which is characterized by the absence of pre-existing data regarding previous rockfall events. As an outcome, it was shown that the suggested methodology, with the combination of innovative remote sensing technologies with traditional engineering geological field surveys, can lead to the extraction of all the necessary quantitative data input for the proposed rating system for any natural slope. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 3D Jointed Rock Mass Structural Analysis and Evaluation of Rockfall Potential)
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17 pages, 20440 KiB  
Article
The Impact of Fracture Persistence and Intact Rock Bridge Failure on the In Situ Block Area Distribution
by Thomas Strauhal and Christian Zangerl
Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(9), 3973; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11093973 - 27 Apr 2021
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2005
Abstract
The in situ block size distribution is an essential characteristic of fractured rock masses and impacts the assessment of rockfall hazards and other fields of rock mechanics. The block size distribution can be estimated rather easily for fully persistent fractures, but it is [...] Read more.
The in situ block size distribution is an essential characteristic of fractured rock masses and impacts the assessment of rockfall hazards and other fields of rock mechanics. The block size distribution can be estimated rather easily for fully persistent fractures, but it is a challenge to determine this parameter when non-persistent fractures in a rock mass should be considered. In many approaches, the block size distribution is estimated by assuming that the fractures are fully persistent, resulting in an underestimation of the block sizes for many fracture geometries. In addition, the block size distribution is influenced by intact rock bridge failure, especially in rock masses with non-persistent fractures, either in a short-term perspective during a slope failure event when the rock mass increasingly disintegrates or in a long-term view when the rock mass progressively weakens. The quantification of intact rock bridge failure in a rock mass is highly complex, comprising fracture coalescence and crack growth driven by time-dependent changes of the in situ stresses due to thermal, freezing-thawing, and pore water pressure fluctuations. This contribution presents stochastic analyses of the two-dimensional in situ block area distribution and the mean block area of non-persistent fracture networks. The applied 2D discrete fracture network approach takes into account the potential failure of intact rock bridges based on a pre-defined threshold length and relies on input parameters that can be easily measured in the field by classical discontinuity mapping methods (e.g., scanline mapping). In addition, on the basis of these discrete fracture network analyses, an empirical relationship was determined between (i) the mean block area for persistent fractures, (ii) the mean block area for non-persistent fractures, and (iii) the mean interconnectivity factor. The further adaptation of this 2D approach to 3D block geometries is discussed on the basis of general considerations. The calculations carried out in this contribution highlight the large impact of non-persistent fractures and intact rock bridge failure for rock mass characterization, e.g., rockfall assessment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 3D Jointed Rock Mass Structural Analysis and Evaluation of Rockfall Potential)
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27 pages, 29791 KiB  
Article
An Open-Source Algorithm for 3D ROck Slope Kinematic Analysis (ROKA)
by Niccolò Menegoni, Daniele Giordan and Cesare Perotti
Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(4), 1698; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11041698 - 14 Feb 2021
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 4417
Abstract
The Markland test is one of the most diffused and adopted methods of kinematic analysis for the identification of critical intersections of rock discontinuities that could generate rock failures. Traditionally, the kinematic analysis is based on the use of a stereographic approach that [...] Read more.
The Markland test is one of the most diffused and adopted methods of kinematic analysis for the identification of critical intersections of rock discontinuities that could generate rock failures. Traditionally, the kinematic analysis is based on the use of a stereographic approach that is able to identify the critical combination between the orientations of discontinuities and the rock wall. The recent improvements in the use of Digital Outcrop Models (DOMs) created the conditions for the development of a new automatized approach. We present ROck Slope Kinematic Analysis (ROKA) which is an open-source algorithm aimed at performing the Kinematic Analysis using the discontinuity measures collected onto a 3D DOM. The presented algorithm is able to make a local identification of the possible critical combination between the identified discontinuities and the orientation of the slope. Using this approach, the algorithm is able to identify on the slope the presence of critical combinations according to the traditional kinematic analysis of planar failure, flexural toppling, wedge failure, and direct toppling modes of failures and then visualize them on DOMs. In this way, the traditional approach is more effective and can be adopted for a more detailed analysis of large and complex areas. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 3D Jointed Rock Mass Structural Analysis and Evaluation of Rockfall Potential)
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18 pages, 5319 KiB  
Article
Fragmented Rockfall Volume Distribution from Photogrammetry-Based Structural Mapping and Discrete Fracture Networks
by Renato Macciotta, Chris Gräpel and Roger Skirrow
Appl. Sci. 2020, 10(19), 6977; https://doi.org/10.3390/app10196977 - 6 Oct 2020
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 2673
Abstract
The design of rockfall protection structures requires information about the falling block volumes. Computational tools for rockfall trajectory simulation are now capable of modeling block fragmentation, requiring the fragmented volume-relative frequency distribution of rockfalls as input. This can be challenging at locations with [...] Read more.
The design of rockfall protection structures requires information about the falling block volumes. Computational tools for rockfall trajectory simulation are now capable of modeling block fragmentation, requiring the fragmented volume-relative frequency distribution of rockfalls as input. This can be challenging at locations with scarce or nonexistent rockfall records and where block surveys are not feasible. The work in this paper shows that simple discrete fracture network realizations from structural mapping based on photogrammetric techniques can be used to reliably estimate rock fall block volumes. These estimates can be used for dimensioning rockfall protection structures in cases where data is scarce or not available. The methodology is tested at two sites in the Canadian Cordillera where limestone outcrops have been the source of recurrent rockfalls. The results suggest that fragmentation will largely tend to occur through weak planes and expansion of non-persistent discontinuities, while other block breakage mechanisms exert less influence in the fragmented volume-relative frequency distribution of rockfalls. Therefore, block volume distribution can be estimated using a simple discrete fracture network (DFN) with fully persistent discontinuities. Limitations of the methods are also discussed, as well as potential future research to address such limitations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 3D Jointed Rock Mass Structural Analysis and Evaluation of Rockfall Potential)
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