Numerical analysis of three potential rock avalanches in the Alps

Rock avalanche is an extremely rapid, massive, flow-like motion of fragmented rock from a large rock slide or rock fall. Since it often proves impossible to mitigate the destructive potential of this type of landslide, by stabilising the area of origin, risk analyses, including predictions of run out, have to be performed. With these predictions losses can be reduced, as they provide means to define the hazardous areas, estimate the intensity of the hazard (which will be useful as input for risk studies), and work out the parameters for the identification of appropriate protective measures.Among the existing approaches to the study of the possible propagation of a rock avalanche, the methodology applied in the present paper includes the code DAN, developed on the basis of the continuum mechanics model of Hungr, and the rock fall program ROTOMAP (Geo& Soft International), that is a three dimensional lumped mass code. The capability of the developed methodology to simulate real cases is tested through analyses carried out on three different sites: Ceppo Morelli (Italy), Oselitzenbach (Austria) and Rosone (Italy).