| This manuscript presents the analyses of full-scale field testing of flexible rockfall barrier post foundations under horizontal loading. While significant research has been conducted and published regarding design and analysis of the net, post, and cable components of flexible rockfall barrier systems, little research has been conducted or published regarding the design of anchors and foundations to support these structures and transfer impact loads to the ground. To better understand past efforts at designing these foundation structures, the initial chapters cover an outline of "state of practice" summaries, review of past design guides, case studies on rockfall barrier impacts, and past full-scale barrier testing efforts that focused specifically on foundations. These chapters are followed by an overview of full-scale foundation testing efforts that the author helped to coordinate with a group of geotechnical engineers in Colorado. Full-scale testing provides the most accurate and representative data sets for developing design criteria for future systems. The latter chapters include a discussion of design considerations for post foundations of rockfall barriers based on the results of the testing, as well as design recommendations for specific barrier applications. The results presented in this research document a quantitative assessment of loading conditions experienced by rockfall barrier post foundations, as well as qualitative performance assessment of the various foundation types. |
