Estimation And Simulation Of Vegetation Effect On Rockfall Using Discontinuous Deformation Analysis

This paper describes a simulation technique for rockfall behavior on natural slopes, where the velocity of a falling rock is usually reduced by contact with vegetation, e.g., trees, bushes and weeds. It is difficult to determine a model for each contact to evaluate the individual dynamics in detail. Instead, the authors applied a force of viscosity to the resistance force of vegetation, using two-dimensional discontinuous deformation analysis (DDA) technique. Through a case study, the losses in the rockfall energy were determined from the field data, and the simulation method using viscosity was proven applicable to the prediction of the rockfall behavior on natural slopes.