Weight-impact test of small-scale rockfall protective soil embankment with different materials and weight masses

Abstract

Rockfall protective soil embankment consists of only soils. In some cases, it can be the most economical, workable, and maintainable rockfall protection construction. However, the performance-based design method is not established. In this study, the weight-impact test was conducted on a small-scale model with different materials and weight masses. The results are as follows. When made with clay as soil embankment material, the weight penetrates the soil embankment and the soil embankment is compressed. When made with sand, the soil embankment is sheared and the weight run-up. When made with gravel, the soil embankment is almost no deformation. And collisions with the same kinetic energy, it was shown that the larger the mass, the more massive the destruction.