ROCK AVALANCHE OCCURRENCE, PROCESS AND MODELLING

摘要

Rock avalanches are relatively infrequent, but highly destructive. From the point of view of societal costs, direct damage due to rock avalanches is of similar magnitude as loss due to defensive actions, esp. slope stabilization and alienation of land. Runout estimates are needed in order to minimize hazard areas that need to be set aside to protect population against perceived rock avalanche hazards. Empirical methods reviewed include the travel angle approach and area-volume correlation. Theories attempting to explain high mobility of rock avalanches are reviewed. In particular, the hypothesis of lubrication by liquefied saturated soil entrained from the landslide path is discussed. In a discussion of analytical modelling approaches, preference is given to an empirical approach, calibrating simple rheological models by means of back-analysis of existing cases.