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Case study of a rockfall in Chongqing, China: movement characteristics of the initial failure process of a tower-shaped rock mass

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Abstract

Tower-shaped rock masses are particularly susceptible to failure, via fracture and disintegration, due to their inherently large height-to-diameter ratio. A rockfall event at the Zengziyan Cliff, in Chongqing, China, was selected for a case study. Based on video footage, the movement characteristics of the initial failure processes were analyzed in three movement stages: initiation, acceleration and deceleration. The failure process began at the bottom of the tower-shaped unstable rock mass and manifested itself in the form of fissure extension followed eventually by disintegration. The acceleration curve presented a continuous negative fluctuation associated with buffering in the deceleration stage. At the same time, the movement characteristic curves at different measurement points displayed significant time-dependent differences, proving that cracking, collisions and disintegration occur in the failed rock mass during the initial failure process. The results of this analysis provide a reference for the early identification of similar rockfalls and for analysis of their mechanisms.

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Acknowledgements

This study is conducted with financial support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 41702342); the Scientific Research Fund of Institute of Geomechanics, CAGS (No. DZLXJK201610); and the China Geological Survey (No. DD20160268-4).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Neotectonic and Geohazard, Ministry of Land Resources, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Institute of Geomechanics, Beijing, 100081, China

    Kai He & Bin Li

  2. China Institute for Geo-Environment Monitoring, Beijing, 100081, China

    Chunli Chen

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  1. Kai He
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  2. Chunli Chen
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  3. Bin Li
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Correspondence to Kai He.

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He, K., Chen, C. & Li, B. Case study of a rockfall in Chongqing, China: movement characteristics of the initial failure process of a tower-shaped rock mass. Bull Eng Geol Environ 78, 3295–3303 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-018-1364-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-018-1364-9

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