Journal of Natural Disaster Science

SMALL-SCALE ROCKFALLS AS WARNING OF SLOPE FAILURE

Kazuo OKUNISHI
Professor, Disaster Prevention Research Institute, Kyoto University
Tankg BANXING
Professor, Chengdu Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences
and
Lin LIXIANG
Engineer, Chengdu Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences

(Received 13 June, 1994 and in revised form 6 December, 1994)

Abstract

Small-scale rockfalls were observed along a mountainous road in Sichuan, China, shortly before the toppling of a large block of rock. Analysis of successive photographs shows that the rockfalls were mechanically related to the block toppling. The possibility of predicting different modes of the failure of rocky slopes, which is difficult by conventional methods is suggested. Technical points of a system for patrolling potentially hazardous slopes and providing early warning to ensure safe evacuation are discussed.

Key words

slope failure, rockfall, rocky slope, toppling, prediction, hazard prevention