• The Journal of Engineering Geology
• /
• v.32 no.4
• /
• pp.499-511
• /
• 2022

In this study, a vertical drop test was carried out to identify the performance of flexible wire rope rockfall protection fence by 100 kJ rockfall energy according to ETAG 027. The flexible wire rope, which consists of wire rope and spring. is especially enhanced the elasticity and flexibility so that it can be longer elongated when the rope is impacted by rockfall compared to original wire rope, and that results longer increase of contact time between rockfall and wire rope and increase rockfall energy absorption capability and decreases rockfall impact force. The test results shows that the plastic deformation occurred in middle post and the final deflection of the middle post was 1.15 m, which is lower than 2.0 m determined by ETAG 027. This vertical test verified the flexible wire rope rockfall protection fence can successfully absorb 102.9 kJ rockfall energy.