World record rockfall protection test: net stops 20 tons
20 ton concrete block caught in rockfall protection
net for the first time
On
October 10, the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research
WSL and Geobrugg AG set a new world record at the rockfall protection netting
test facility in Walenstadt. During the trial run for approval testing of a new
protection netting, the structure withstood a concrete block weighing 20 tons
and travelling over 100 km/h.
The
world record for flexible rockfall protection barriers was set at Lochezen test
facility in Walendstadt on Monday, October 10, 2011. The facility is operated
jointly by WSL and the company Geobrugg AG Geohazard Solutions. A concrete test
block weighing 20 tons was dropped from a height of 42 m and hit the netting at
a speed of 103 km/h. The recently developed, high-performance flexible
protection netting was manufactured by Geobrugg AG, based in Romanshorn. The
impact energy was 8,000 kilojoules, exceeding the previous performance limit
for high-performance flexible rockfall barriers (5,000 kJ) by 60%.
450
experts from five continents and almost 50 countries were on hand to observe
this remarkable feat of Swiss engineering. The test took place on the occasion
of Geobrugg AG’s 60th anniversary. The experts who travelled to Switzerland
expect the Swiss technology to provide effective and cost-efficient rockfall
protection in their home countries.
In
2010, the WSL became the first EU-notified testing body for rockfall protection
netting with its own test facility. While Geobrugg AG was testing its recently
developed high-performance protection netting, WSL monitored its own measuring
equipment, such as the measuring cells for force measurements on cables and the
high speed cameras (250 images per second). The detailed measurements necessary
for EU approval and certification will be performed in November 2011.
WSL
has been conducting experimental and computational research into the dynamic
load-bearing behavior of such protective structures since 1999. It has been an
EU-notified testing body since Fall 2010 and thus conforms to strict
international testing standards.
Rockfall
protection barriers are used in mountain regions along transportation routes
and to protect people and buildings. The flexible systems tested in Walenstadt
perform as well as permanent constructions, but are considerably lighter. They
are also easier to install and therefore more cost-effective than large
reinforced concrete structures. A Geobrugg rockfall barrier consisting of
interconnected wire ring nets has recently been tested. These wire ring nets
are stretched across the slope between steel cables and supports. Specially
developed braking elements are integrated into the cables and dissipate the
impact energy through plastic deformation.
Contacts
WSL Rockfall Research
Axel
Volkwein, +41 44 739 29 62, axel.volkwein@wsl.ch
Barbara
Krummenacher, +41 44 739 25 47, barbara.krummenacher@wsl.ch
WSL Media Relations
Gottardo Pestalozzi, +41 44 739 22
40, +41 79 224 10 18, gottardo.pestalozzi@wsl.ch
Geobrugg AG, Geohazard Solutions
Andrea Roth, +41
71 466 81 55, +41 79 646 33 59,
andrea.roth@geobrugg.com
Corinna
Wendeler, +41 71 466 81 79, +41 76 233 24 28, corinna.wendeler@geobrugg.com
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