NUMERICAL SIMULATION OF A FLEXIBLE ROCK SHED UNDER THE IMPACT OF A ROCKFALL

Because field tests could not be used to obtain energy absorption in individual components and support system reactions due to restrictions on testing methods, a numerical simulation of a flexible rock-shed under impact of rockfall was carried out. The numerical simulation model for the flexible rock-shed was developed based on reasonable assumptions, theoretical analysis and experimental results. In order to validate the numerical model and numerical calculation method, the numerical simulation results were compared with the experimental data from during the impact of the rockfall, including the displacement of ring nets, the peak load on horizontal and hoop cables, the deformation of the rock-shed, and the strain-time curves of the steel vaulted structure. The results show that the numerical model and numerical calculation methods are shown to be reliable in predicting the dynamic behavior of this rock-shed under rockfall impact, and will be employed to investigate the performance of this structure.