Evaluation of Rockfall-hazard Potential For Rockville, Utah, Following a 2013 Fatal Rockfall

2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 143-163 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carl Jacklitch ◽  
Abdul Shakoor ◽  
William R. Lund

Abstract In December 2013, a rockfall in the town of Rockville, Utah, released an estimated 2,700 tons (2,450 tonnes) of rock from a 400-ft (122-m) high slope; the rock struck a house at the base of the slope, resulting in two fatalities. We performed detailed field and laboratory investigations to (1) identify the modes of failure and factors contributing to rockfalls along the east-west trending, south-facing slope where it passes through the town; (2) identify sections of the slope that pose the highest hazard for future property damage or injury; and (3) suggest potential remedial measures. Field investigations included mapping discontinuities, establishing stratigraphy, measuring slope geometry, and evaluating potential failure modes at four selected sites. Laboratory investigations included determining dry density, friction angle, and slake durability index of rock samples. Using the Dips software, we determined the principal joint sets and performed a kinematic analysis. The maximum rollout distances for rock blocks of various sizes were determined for each of the study sites using the RocFall software. Results of the kinematic analysis and field observations indicate that wedge, plane, and toppling failures are possible within the Shinarump Conglomerate Member of the Chinle Formation and the Upper Red Member of the Moenkopi Formation along the entire slope. Based on the results of the study, we developed a rockfall-hazard map that indicates that the western portion of the town faces the highest hazard from potential rockfalls. The most feasible future remedial measure is not to build close to the hazardous slopes. Other possible remedial measures include removing loose rock blocks, installing rock anchors, and using drapery mesh.

Author(s):  
Tilahun Y ◽  
◽  
Mesfin G ◽  

Aluminum is a metal matrix material which is widely used in different industrial as well as engineering applications.it has a great advantage due to its remarkable properties like less density, formability, and light in weight, recyclability and other properties. but, failure of aluminum matrix materials are the main problems in aluminum industries now a days.in this review role of aluminum and its alloys as matrix materials, their failure modes, causes of failure and optimization techniques to minimize this failure modes and causes of failure are discussed. Sources are reviewed which are from 2005 to recent one. Consequently, most modes of failure, causes of failure and most optimization techniques of aluminum and its alloy matrix materials are found. most modes of failure are mechanical related like fatigue failure, surface cracking, ductile failure, porosity formation, and stress related like stress corrosion cracking, surface weakness due to repeated stresses and other factors are summarized.in causes of failure mostly like corrosion formation, wear formation and poor mechanical properties are discussed.


Author(s):  
Mahmood Nabipour ◽  
Mostafa Zeinoddini ◽  
Mahmood R. Abdi

The pull-out performance of conventional upright suction caissons has been investigated by different researchers. However, no attention has been formerly paid to tapered suction caissons. Some numerical studies already conducted by the authors demonstrated that tapered caissons exhibit pull-out capacities well above than that from their corresponding upright caissons. This paper deals with different failure mechanisms of tapered suction caissons and discusses some reason for their superior performance. A numerical approach has been used and different combinations of caisson types/ soil categories have been examined. With tapered suction caissons two different modes of failure have been discerned. The first mode has been noticed to develop in weak clays and sands under drained conditions. This mode corresponds to a shear sliding failure in the soil plug along the caisson’s interior wall. Concurrently a soil wedge is formed in the soil body adjacent to the caisson. The second mode of failure has been observed in higher strength drained clays and undrained clays and sands. With this failure mode a local failure at the bottom of the soil plug has been noticed to happen. At the same time the failure is extended to the lower surfaces of a soil wedge outside of the caisson. The detached soil plug accompanies the caisson in its movement upward following the local failure.


2015 ◽  
Vol 16 (8) ◽  
pp. 613-618 ◽  
Author(s):  
Safoura Ghodsi ◽  
Reza Shabanpour ◽  
Niloufar Mousavi ◽  
Marzieh Alikhasi

ABSTRACT Aim The purpose of the current study was to compare the fracture resistance and mode of failure of zirconia and titanium abutments with different diameters. Materials and methods Fourteen groups of abutments including prefabricated zirconia, copy-milled zirconia and titanium abutments of an implant system (XiVE, Dentsply) were prepared in different diameters. An increasing vertical load was applied to each specimen until failure occurred. Fracture resistance was measured in each group using the universal testing machine. Moreover, the failure modes were studied and categorized as abutment screw fracture, connection area fracture, abutment body fracture, abutment body distortion, screw distortion and connection area distortion. Groups were statistically compared using univariate and post-hoc tests. The level of statistical significance was set at 5%. Results Fabrication method (p = 0.03) and diameter (p < 0.001) had significant effect on the fracture resistance of abutments. Fracture resistance of abutments with 5.5 mm diameter was higher than other diameters (p < 0.001). The observed modes of failure were dependent on the abutment material as well. All of the prefabricated titanium abutments fractured within the abutment screw. Abutment screw distortion, connection area fracture, and abutment body fracture were the common failure type in other groups. Conclusion Diameter had a significant effect on fracture resistance of implant abutments, as abutments with greater diameters were more resistant to static loads. Copy-milled abutments showed lower fracture resistance as compared to other experimental groups. Clinical significance Although zirconia abutments have received great popularity among clinicians and even patients selecting them for narrow implants should be with caution. How to cite this article Shabanpour R, Mousavi N, Ghodsi S, Alikhasi M. Comparative Evaluation of Fracture Resistance and Mode of Failure of Zirconia and Titanium Abutments with Different Diameters. J Contemp Dent Pract 2015;16(8):613-618.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Niccolò Menegoni ◽  
Daniele Giordan ◽  
Cesare Perotti

&lt;p&gt;Among the several adopted methods for the kinematic analysis of the possible modes of failure that could affect a rock slope, the Markland test is the most used. Whereas, it has the advantage of being simple and fast, it has some limits, as the impossibility to manually consider the several different slope orientations and their interaction with the discontinuity dimensions and positions.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Recently, the improvements in the Remote Piloted Aerial System (RPAS) digital photogrammetry techniques for the development and mapping of Digital Outcrop Models (DOMs) have given the possibility of developing new automatized digital approaches. In this study, ROKA (ROck slope Kinematic Analysis) algorithm is presented. It is an open-source algorithm, written in MATLAB language, which aims to perform the kinematic analysis of the stability of a rock slope using the discontinuity measurements collected onto 3D DOMs. Its main advantage is the possibility to identify the possible critical combination between the 3D georeferenced discontinuities and the local surface of the slope. In particular, the critical combinations that can activate the planar sliding, flexural toppling, wedge sliding and direct toppling modes of failures can be detected and highlighted directly on the DOM. Hence, the ROKA algorithm can make the traditional approach for the kinematic analysis of a rock slope more effective, allowing not only to simplify the analysis, but also to increase its detail. This can be very important, in particular, for the analysis of large and complex rock slopes.&lt;/p&gt;


Author(s):  
Naoto Kasahara ◽  
Takashi Wakai ◽  
Izumi Nakamura ◽  
Takuya Sato ◽  
Masakazu Ichimiya

Abstract As a lesson learned from the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident, the industry recognized the imporatance of mitigating accident consequences after Beyond Design Basis Events (BDBE). We propose the concept of applying fracture control to mitigate failure consequences of nuclear components under BDBE. Requirements are different between Design Basis Events (DBE) and BDBE. In the case of DBE, it requires preventing occurrence of failures, and thus, its structural approach is strengthening. On the other hand, BDBE requires mitigating failure consequences. The simple strengthening approach with DBE is inappropriate for this BDBE requirement. As the structural strengthening approach for mitigating failure consequences, we propose applying the concept of fracture control. The fundamental idea is to control the sequence of failure locations and modes. Preceding failures release loadings and prevent further catastrophic consequent failures. At the end, locations and modes of failure are limited. Absolute strength evaluation for each failure mode is not easy especially for BDBE. Fracture control, however, requires only relative strength evaluation among different locations and failure modes. Our paper discusses two sample applications of our proposed method. One is a fast reactor vessel under severe accident conditions. Our method controls the upper part of a vessel above the liquid coolant surface weaker than the lower part. This strength control maintains enough coolant even after a high pressure and high temperature condition causes failure of the reactor vessel because structural failure in the upper part releases internal pressure to protect the lower part. The other example is the piping under a large earthquake. Our proposal controls strength of supports weaker than the piping itself. When the supports fail first, natural frequencies of piping systems drop. When the natural frequencies of dominant modes are lower than the peak frequency of seismic loads, seismic loads hardly transfer to the piping and catastrophic failures such as collapse or break are avoided.


2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (9) ◽  
pp. 190790
Author(s):  
Jing Hu ◽  
Haijia Wen ◽  
Qilong Xie ◽  
Binyang Li ◽  
Qu Mo

The presence of weak interlayers and groundwater are common adverse geological conditions in tunnels. To investigate the modes of failure of rock masses surrounding tunnels owing to weak interlayers and groundwater, model tests and numerical simulations were conducted in this study based on two cases, and a model that considers only the weak interlayer was conducted for comparison. Based on the tests, differences between two models in terms of rock pressure, displacement, cracks and strain were analysed. The results reveal that the presence of groundwater has a significant effect on the space–time distribution of stress, displacement and cracks in the surrounding rock. Furthermore, based on the numerical model, the seepage field was analysed in terms of pore water pressure, permeability and the seepage process to understand the joint action of groundwater and weak interlayer on the failure mechanism of tunnels. The results show that the groundwater and interlayer complement each other to induce the failure mode of the surrounding rock. The water accelerates slip in the interlayer and the development of cracks. Conversely, low strength, muddy weak interlayers serve as the channels of water flow, resulting in deformations and cracks at different locations and different failure modes.


1997 ◽  
Vol 36 (11) ◽  
pp. 219-226 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Mascolo ◽  
L. Spinosa ◽  
V. Lotito ◽  
G. Mininni ◽  
G. Bagnuolo

Laboratory investigations have been carried out to study the influence of process failure modes on organics emission during the incineration of hazardous sludge. The thermal, temporal and fuel-oxidant mixing failure modes were tested. They were simulated by holding the first combustion temperature at 400°C and varying the after-burning one between 600 and 1100°C, the after-burning residence time between 1 and 3 s and the excess air between 30 and 160%. Results showed that the thermal failure mode is the most important factor controlling the number and concentration of emitted organics leading to the formation of over 70 compounds at after-burning temperature of 600°C. At higher after-burning temperatures emissions are controlled by the fuel-oxidant mixing failure mode and, only when the after-burning is 800°C and the oxygen is 160% over the stoichiometric value, by the temporal failure mode. Based on results obtained some suggestions for reducing emissions of toxic organics in full-scale incinerators are given.


2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Han Bao ◽  
Qun Qi ◽  
Hengxing Lan ◽  
Changgen Yan ◽  
Wei Xu ◽  
...  

Fault gouge has special mechanical properties and remarkable engineering effects. Using a ring shear test, the strength properties of the differently colored remolded fault gouges of the Shendaogou Fault in Yan’an were studied by changing moisture contents and normal stresses. Chlorite and illite are the main clay minerals in fault gouges; differences in mineral composition make fault gouges appear in different colors. Besides clay minerals, the dried fault gouges disintegration in water is also due to the transformation of gypsum. The gradation of green fault gouge and multicolor fault gouge is better than that of the red fault gouge, while the fault gouges’ strain softening properties become weaker as the coarse grain content increases. Affected by water content and normal stress, the shear planes can be divided into three failure modes: peeling failure, grooved failure, and sliding failure. With the increase of water content, there will be a significant weakening on cohesion and friction angle. A new parameter, the “Normal Stress Threshold (NST),” is introduced as a critical value for the emergence of the strain hardening phenomenon, and the NSTs of different fault gouges are significantly different. The functions obtained from the relation of residual strength, peak strength, and normal stress can be used to calculate shear strength parameters under any normal stresses. In addition, the residual strength of fault gouge is obviously different from clay and loess, which can be qualitatively explained by clay particle contents.


1988 ◽  
Vol 110 (3) ◽  
pp. 234-239 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. L. Roche

The paper begins with a reminder that the purpose of stress classification is to ensure suitable margins with respect to failure modes. The distinction between primary stresses and secondary stress is then examined and a method is given for assessing the degree of spring effect (elastic follow-up) in the elastic plastic field. The importance of the spring effect is then highlighted by an examination of the effect of primary and secondary stresses on instability and on crack behavior.


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