International Journal of Mining and Geo-Engineering

International Journal of Mining and Geo-Engineering

Finite element analysis of rockfall attenuator systems under dynamic impact behavior

Articles in Press

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors
Abolfazl Rezaeipour 1
Mohammad Fatehi Merji 1
Alireza Yarahmadi Bafghi 1
Mehdi Amini 2
Manouchehr Sanei 1
1 Department of Mining and Metallurgical Engineering, Yazd University, Yazd, Iran.
2 Thurber Engineering Ltd, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
10.22059/ijmge.2026.418780.595407
Abstract
Rockfall attenuator systems are increasingly used as flexible protection measures to reduce the impact intensity of falling blocks and guide them toward controlled deposition zones. Due to the highly dynamic nature of rockfall impacts and the complex interaction between the falling block, mesh, cables, and anchorage system, evaluating the mechanical behavior of attenuators remains a significant engineering challenge. In this study, a three-dimensional finite element model of a rockfall attenuator system was developed and validated against full-scale impact-test data. The numerical response was evaluated through deformation behavior, tensile forces in supporting cables, contact pressure distribution, and energy absorption characteristics. The results showed that the model successfully reproduced the main deformation mechanism of the attenuator, including localized mesh deformation, progressive load redistribution, and post-impact stabilization. The predicted cable-force histories also showed reasonable agreement with experimental measurements, indicating that the FEM model captured the primary load-transfer mechanism within the rope network. The contact-pressure results confirmed the transition from localized impact to distributed load transfer during deformation. In addition, the kinetic energy of falling block decreased from approximately 0.53 × 10⁶ J to 0.23 × 10⁶ J during the attnutaion process, indicating that nearly 56% of the initial impact energy was absorbed by the attenuator system during the primary impact phase. The stable total-energy response and negligible artificial strain energy confirmed the numerical stability and reliability of the explicit dynamic model. The results demonstrate that the developed finite element model provides a reliable representation of dynamic behavior and energy absorption performance of rockfall attenuator systems under impact loading.
Keywords
Rockfall attenuator
Finite element method
Dynamic impact
Energy absorption
Cable-supported structure
Subjects
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International Journal of Mining and Geo-Engineering

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 08 September 2026