The design of todays state-of-the-art rockfall barriers is currently based on experience and time consuming experimentation. Advanced simulation models are now under development to reduce prototyping time and de- velopment costs and will also provide a better understanding of complex mechanical systems under impact. In order to develop the models, extensive eld testing was carried out.
The individual components of the barriers were dynamically tested on a specially
designed eld apparatus. High energy full-scale tests on instrumented multi-span systems were additionally performed. The newly developed nite element program simulating the barriers is based on an explicit time step algorithm combined with special-purpose elements with large deformations and nonlinear material behavior for the netand brake-rings. For the interaction of rock and elements it also considers contact and sliding eects as well as friction.