Investigation of rockfall potential of the slopes on arakli-gümüşhane highway with 3D analyses

In this study, the rockfall potential of 3 different rock slopes located along the Trabzon-Gümüşhane highway in the Araklı district of Trabzon province was evaluated, and 3-dimensional rockfall analyses were conducted using RocPro3D software. The discontinuity and strength properties of the rock masses exposed on the studied slopes were determined through field studies and laboratory tests, while photogrammetric measurements conducted with a UAV were used to generate 3-dimensional solid models of the slopes. The data was utilized in the three-dimensional rockfall analyses to determine the trajectories and impact energies of blocks of varying sizes and shapes. For Slope-1, it was determined that the fall of 100 kg and 1000 kg blocks would result in impact energies of approximately 150 kJ and 300 kJ, respectively, with most blocks crossing the highway. Analyses for Slope-2 indicated that the impact energies of 100 kg and 1000 kg blocks would reach 50 kJ and 560 kJ, respectively, and that most blocks would exceed the highway. The 3-dimensional rockfall analyses for Slope-3 revealed that the impact energies of 100 kg and 1000 kg blocks would be 45 kJ and 450 kJ, respectively, with most falling blocks completely crossing the highway. The data indicates that in the event of a rockfall, the detached blocks are likely to reach and surpass the highway in the studied slopes. Therefore, it is recommended that surface cleaning be carried out in the relevant slopes and that measures such as steel mesh or high-capacity ring nets be implemented to ensure slope safety.