Reinforced Earth offers both passive and active engineered structural solutions that mitigate rockfall risk and control levels of damage.
Passive rockfall protection
Reinforced Earth® rockfall bund withstands impact of 5000 KJ!
Reinforced Earth’s rockfall bund solution is the result of decades of research and development that has led to the creation of an innovative and high-performance narrow rockfall protection barrier. Most recently, full scale testing by Terre Armée in 2020 entailed releasing a giant 12.4-tonne block from a height of 41m and impacting the 3 meters thick structure resulting in an impact of 5.1 megajoules (video available below). The narrow bund successfully absorbed the energy from the impact, pushing the limits of soil-structure interaction to a new level and establishing a world-record for a reinforced soil structure.
Sheds and galleries
Rockfall sheds using TechSpan® precast arches, and TechBox™ precast boxes is gaining popularity with engineers. Adjoining retaining walls built within narrow excavation limits are often designed using TechWall™ or T-Wall®.
Rockfall protection barriers
Reinforced Earth’s passive rockfall protection barriers are made of metallic, non-metallic and/or composite materials. It is primarily applied to arrest and catch rocks, boulders, shooting stones or debris that can be flowing or falling due to natural causes. The rockfall protection barrier is a support solution allowing to hold these disintegrating and falling elements, subsequently avoiding damages to infrastructure and preventing disruptions such as traffic blockages. It has an ability to withstand energy impacts typically up to 5000KJ.
Reinforced Earth’s passive rockfall protection barrier can be used as an efficient alternative to more traditional and costly mitigation measures and presents many benefits:
- Cost efficient compared to similar rigid barriers
- Effective for confined and open channels
- Easy clean out and maintenance
- Does not affect sediment flow under non-event conditions
- Low aesthetic impact on landscape
Active rockfall protection
Rockfall protection nets
Reinforced Earth companies also design engineered solutions and supply materials for the construction of active protection using our wire mesh protective netting solution in combination with TerraNail™ soil nails and TerraAnchor™ soil anchors. Our protective netting solution consists of either high-tensile nets (grade > 800MPa) or generic products like gabion mesh or welded wire mesh.
Reinforced Earth also provides drapery rockfall protection solutions. It is a flexible membrane that supports superficial pressure generated by the potential unstable ground mass or debris flow, categorised in two types:
- High tensile mesh made of coated wires having minimum tensile strength of 1770MPa
- Rectangular mesh made of coated wires having minimum tensile strength of 400 MPa. These are available in different diameters and mesh strengths depending on the geology and geometry of the slope to be protected.
Our solutions are proven to be:
- Easy and rapid to install
- Sustainable with high safety standard
- Highly durable
Related solutions
TechSpan®
TechSpan®
Resulting from decades of research and development, TechSpan® is a buried precast concrete arch system designed to accommodate high fills, heavy live loads, and alternating loading conditions. With a small footprint and easy and quick to install, TechSpan® is ideal for mining, industrial, and railway applications, it is gaining popularity in many different markets. See the many uses of our precast arch system.
TechWall™
TechWall™
A precast retaining wall system, TechWall™ combines the advantages of counterfort with the quality and effectiveness of precast concrete. A great fit for sites with soil bearing capacities allowing for shallow foundations, TechWall™ can also be combined with piling solutions to accommodate different types of soil. Sustainable, cost-effective, and quick to install, TechWall™ may just be the ideal solution for your project needs.