Risk assessment of potential rock collapse in Fenghuang Mountain, three gorges reservoir area, China

On 8 October 2017, persistent heavy rainfall triggered a rock collapse on Fenghuang Mountain in Wuxi Town, located within the Three Gorges Reservoir region of China. Subsequent field investigations and monitoring identified several potentially unstable rock masses in the area, posing a significant t...

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Main Authors: Shi Cheng, Zhenwei Dai, Anle Zhang, Jun Geng, Zixuan Li, Fen Wang, Bolin Huang, Nan Zhang, Xiannian Jiang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2024-12-01
Series:Frontiers in Earth Science
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feart.2024.1497757/full
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author Shi Cheng
Shi Cheng
Zhenwei Dai
Zhenwei Dai
Anle Zhang
Anle Zhang
Jun Geng
Zixuan Li
Zixuan Li
Fen Wang
Fen Wang
Bolin Huang
Nan Zhang
Xiannian Jiang
author_facet Shi Cheng
Shi Cheng
Zhenwei Dai
Zhenwei Dai
Anle Zhang
Anle Zhang
Jun Geng
Zixuan Li
Zixuan Li
Fen Wang
Fen Wang
Bolin Huang
Nan Zhang
Xiannian Jiang
author_sort Shi Cheng
collection DOAJ
description On 8 October 2017, persistent heavy rainfall triggered a rock collapse on Fenghuang Mountain in Wuxi Town, located within the Three Gorges Reservoir region of China. Subsequent field investigations and monitoring identified several potentially unstable rock masses in the area, posing a significant threat to the safety of nearby residents and their property. In this study,the Rapid Mass Movement Simulation (RAMMS) numerical tool was used to perform a back analysis of the rock collapse event. The well calibrated numerical model was then used to assess the risk of the potential unstable rock masses in the study area. The rock collapse on Fenghuang Mountain descended rapidly along the slope, with the dislodged material accumulating at the base and obstructing the road at the foot of the slope. Some debris breached the embankment and entered the Daning River. The computed maximum velocity during the rock collapse event was approximately 9.14 m/s, with an average maximum deposit thickness of around 4.48 m. The back-analysis of the rock collapse event closely aligns with the observed failure process and deposit morphology documented through field investigation. Using the well calibrated numerical model, a dynamic analysis was conducted on the potential unstable rock mass. The risk assessment indicates that the potential unstable rock mass is prone to instability, with a high likelihood of a subsequent rockfall under extreme rainfall conditions. The computed average maximum velocity for the potential rockfall is 33.83 m/s, with an average maximum deposit thickness of 2.20 m. The computed maximum impact pressure is about 164 kPa, which would result in significant damage to the road below. Additionally, a maximum wave height of 1.38 m from the surge caused by potential rockfall entering the Daning River was calculated by a semi-empirical model. This research offers a novel approach and methodology for assessing the risk of such hazardous events in similar geological setting globally.
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publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
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spelling doaj-art-09c61ff34a4d41f6ab02ea719f9cdcfe2024-12-04T06:46:03ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Earth Science2296-64632024-12-011210.3389/feart.2024.14977571497757Risk assessment of potential rock collapse in Fenghuang Mountain, three gorges reservoir area, ChinaShi Cheng0Shi Cheng1Zhenwei Dai2Zhenwei Dai3Anle Zhang4Anle Zhang5Jun Geng6Zixuan Li7Zixuan Li8Fen Wang9Fen Wang10Bolin Huang11Nan Zhang12Xiannian Jiang13Wuhan Center, China Geological Survey (Geosciences Innovation Center of Central South China), Wuhan, Hubei, ChinaCollege of Civil Engineering and Architecture, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, Hubei, ChinaWuhan Center, China Geological Survey (Geosciences Innovation Center of Central South China), Wuhan, Hubei, ChinaHubei Key Laboratory of Operation Safety of High Dam and Large Reservoir, Yichang, Hubei, ChinaWuhan Center, China Geological Survey (Geosciences Innovation Center of Central South China), Wuhan, Hubei, ChinaCollege of Civil Engineering and Architecture, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, Hubei, ChinaHubei Key Laboratory of Operation Safety of High Dam and Large Reservoir, Yichang, Hubei, ChinaWuhan Center, China Geological Survey (Geosciences Innovation Center of Central South China), Wuhan, Hubei, ChinaFaculty of Earth Resources, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, ChinaWuhan Center, China Geological Survey (Geosciences Innovation Center of Central South China), Wuhan, Hubei, ChinaFaculty of Earth Resources, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, ChinaCollege of Civil Engineering and Architecture, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, Hubei, ChinaChina Geological Environment Monitoring Institute, Beijing, ChinaNo. 208 Hydrogeology and Engineering Geology Team of Chongqing Bureau of Geology and Minerals Exploration, Chongqing, ChinaOn 8 October 2017, persistent heavy rainfall triggered a rock collapse on Fenghuang Mountain in Wuxi Town, located within the Three Gorges Reservoir region of China. Subsequent field investigations and monitoring identified several potentially unstable rock masses in the area, posing a significant threat to the safety of nearby residents and their property. In this study,the Rapid Mass Movement Simulation (RAMMS) numerical tool was used to perform a back analysis of the rock collapse event. The well calibrated numerical model was then used to assess the risk of the potential unstable rock masses in the study area. The rock collapse on Fenghuang Mountain descended rapidly along the slope, with the dislodged material accumulating at the base and obstructing the road at the foot of the slope. Some debris breached the embankment and entered the Daning River. The computed maximum velocity during the rock collapse event was approximately 9.14 m/s, with an average maximum deposit thickness of around 4.48 m. The back-analysis of the rock collapse event closely aligns with the observed failure process and deposit morphology documented through field investigation. Using the well calibrated numerical model, a dynamic analysis was conducted on the potential unstable rock mass. The risk assessment indicates that the potential unstable rock mass is prone to instability, with a high likelihood of a subsequent rockfall under extreme rainfall conditions. The computed average maximum velocity for the potential rockfall is 33.83 m/s, with an average maximum deposit thickness of 2.20 m. The computed maximum impact pressure is about 164 kPa, which would result in significant damage to the road below. Additionally, a maximum wave height of 1.38 m from the surge caused by potential rockfall entering the Daning River was calculated by a semi-empirical model. This research offers a novel approach and methodology for assessing the risk of such hazardous events in similar geological setting globally.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feart.2024.1497757/fullthree gorges reservoir areaback analysisrammsdangerous rock collapse -surgerisk assessment
spellingShingle Shi Cheng
Shi Cheng
Zhenwei Dai
Zhenwei Dai
Anle Zhang
Anle Zhang
Jun Geng
Zixuan Li
Zixuan Li
Fen Wang
Fen Wang
Bolin Huang
Nan Zhang
Xiannian Jiang
Risk assessment of potential rock collapse in Fenghuang Mountain, three gorges reservoir area, China
Frontiers in Earth Science
three gorges reservoir area
back analysis
ramms
dangerous rock collapse -surge
risk assessment
title Risk assessment of potential rock collapse in Fenghuang Mountain, three gorges reservoir area, China
title_full Risk assessment of potential rock collapse in Fenghuang Mountain, three gorges reservoir area, China
title_fullStr Risk assessment of potential rock collapse in Fenghuang Mountain, three gorges reservoir area, China
title_full_unstemmed Risk assessment of potential rock collapse in Fenghuang Mountain, three gorges reservoir area, China
title_short Risk assessment of potential rock collapse in Fenghuang Mountain, three gorges reservoir area, China
title_sort risk assessment of potential rock collapse in fenghuang mountain three gorges reservoir area china
topic three gorges reservoir area
back analysis
ramms
dangerous rock collapse -surge
risk assessment
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feart.2024.1497757/full
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