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Influence of thickness on the buffering effect of granular soil cushion against rockfall impact.

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Bibliographic Details
Title: Influence of thickness on the buffering effect of granular soil cushion against rockfall impact.
Authors: Shi, Mengnan1,2,3 (AUTHOR), Luo, Gang4 (AUTHOR), Shen, Weigang1,2,3,4 (AUTHOR) wgshen@swjtu.edu.cn, Zhang, Yuping2,3 (AUTHOR)
Source: Natural Hazards. Jan2026, Vol. 122 Issue 2, p1-20. 20p.
Abstract: A granular soil cushion is commonly paved on the roof slab of rock shed to buffer the direct impact rock block onto the slab during rockfall. A rational design of soil cushion needs to know the influence of soil cushion thickness on the buffering effect which determines the force transmitted to the slab. In this study, a numerical discrete element model is established and validated to investigate the impact of rock block onto granular soil cushion. The numerical model is used to conduct a series of impact tests in which a rock block impacts onto soil cushion of different thickness. The influence of cushion thickness on the impact force, transmitted force and amplification effect is analyzed. Finally, based on the analysis and interpretation, a simple method is proposed to obtain the maximum allowed cushion thickness. All of the presented findings can give a new insight to the design of granular soil cushion for rock shed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Database: Energy & Power Source
Description
Abstract:A granular soil cushion is commonly paved on the roof slab of rock shed to buffer the direct impact rock block onto the slab during rockfall. A rational design of soil cushion needs to know the influence of soil cushion thickness on the buffering effect which determines the force transmitted to the slab. In this study, a numerical discrete element model is established and validated to investigate the impact of rock block onto granular soil cushion. The numerical model is used to conduct a series of impact tests in which a rock block impacts onto soil cushion of different thickness. The influence of cushion thickness on the impact force, transmitted force and amplification effect is analyzed. Finally, based on the analysis and interpretation, a simple method is proposed to obtain the maximum allowed cushion thickness. All of the presented findings can give a new insight to the design of granular soil cushion for rock shed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:0921030X
DOI:10.1007/s11069-025-07864-2