 |
  |
|
    
|
|
Slope: Geometry
A RocFall slope can have any number of segments, but each segment must have a length of 0.001 m or longer and cannot cross any of the other slope segments. In addition, the first and last vertices of the slope must not be below any slope segments (i.e. the first or last segments cannot wrap around underneath the slope to create an overhang. Overhangs are permitted elsewhere on the slope).
Overhangs are permitted anywhere beside the first or the last segments
Error message is displayed for illegal slope geometry
|
|
|
 |
|
Slope: Material Properties
RocFall allows the user to define and assign different material properties to each segment of the slope. Materials are defined in the Material Editor dialog. The user can customize the coefficient of normal restitution (Rn), tangential restitution (Rt), friction angle and slope roughness of the material.
Material Editor dialog
Material properties can be assigned to the slope segments with the Slope Editor dialog or graphically with the mouse.
Slope Editor dialog
Graphically assign materials using the "Assign" toolbar button (the "paintbrush" button)
Each slope segment can be of different materials (different materials are represented by different colors)
|
|
|
|
|
Slope: Table of Coefficient of Restitution
A newly added feature to RocFall is the Table of Coefficient of Restitution parameters from a large literature search in aiding material definition. By pressing the "Help" button in the Material Editor, a new web browser window will be opened with a Table of Coefficient of Restitution listed.
Press the "Help" button in the Material Editor Dialog to view the Table of Coefficient of Restitution
Rocscience Coefficient of Restitution Table in a web browser
|
|
|
|
|
Slope: Material Wizard
The Material Wizard is designed to back-calculate the unknown normal coefficient of restitution (Rn) for a slope material from known rock path endpoints, and a known tangential coefficient of restitution (Rt). In RocFall 4.0, The Material Wizard is able to back-calculate normal coefficients of restitutions for only a single material on the slope.
Material Wizard option under Slope menu
Material Wizard dialog
|
|
|
|
|
Slope: Sliding Rocks
Unlike other similar software, RocFall enables the rocks to continually sliding after they lose the kinetic energy to bounce.
The rock continues to slide (Path 5) after they lose the kinetic energy to bounce
|
|
|
|
|
Slope: Vertex Variation
In RocFall, standard deviations can be applied to the coordinates of any or all slope vertices. This allows the user to account for uncertainty in measurements, or to simulate a pseudo 3-D rockfall analysis.
Adding Standard Deviation to vertex/vertices in the Slope Editor dialog
Vertices with standard deviations are drawn with a yellow ellipse centered on the vertex, indicating the variability of the vertex location.
Yellow ellipse indicating variability of vertex location
Although only the main slope segments are drawn, the rock paths indicate the range of actual slope segments generated by the statistical variation at the vertex.
Rock path deviates due to the variation of the vertex
|
|
|
|
|
Slope: Surface Roughness
The Slope Roughness in the Material Editor dialog allows users to account for variability in the local surface angle of segments of the slope.
The Slope Roughness, as defined in RocFall, is the standard deviation (in degrees) of a slope segment angle. For example, if the user enters a Slope Roughness of 3 degrees, then this will define a normal distribution with a standard deviation of 3 degrees around the mean slope segment angle. Each time a rock impacts a slope segment with a non-zero Slope Roughness, then the actual slope angle used in the RocFall calculations will be the result of sampling the normal distribution for that slope segment.
Modify the Slope Roughness in the Material Editor dialog
|
|
|
|
|
Slope: Import/Export Materials, DXF, CRS & Image files
RocFall allows the user to import and export other data files with Import and Export options under the File menu.
Import option under File menu
Export option under File menu
The user can only import a slope (.DXF) or a CRSP (Colorado Rockfall Simulation Program) into a blank RocFall model. RocFall entities (slopes, barriers, collectors, seeders and rock paths) can also be exported to a DXF file (AutoCAD Drawing Exchange File), using the Export DXF option in the Export sub-menu of the File menu.
The properties of materials defined in RocFall can be stored in RocFall property files. Property files have a .RFM filename extension. Property files are independent of other RocFall data files. They allow users to create their own "database" of material properties. The saved RocFall property files can be loaded into a RocFall model later on.
The active view in RocFall can be exported to an image file (which can be used for reports or other graphics purposes). The program can save image files in the following graphics formats: JPEG (.JPG), Windows bitmap (.BMP), Windows enhanced metafile (.EMF), and Windows metafile (.WMF).
|
|
|
|
|
Slope: Import Pictures From Files
The Picture from File option under Tools menu allows the user to import .BMP, .JPG, and .GIF pictorial files. The images can then be scaled and used for locating coordinates on the drawing (for tracing scanned drawings).
|
|
|
|
