ABSTRACT
An accurate and efficient modelling of rockfall dynamics has great significance in natural hazards prevention e.g. predicting rock trajectories and run-out zones on a complex terrain. To this end, a novel rockfall simulation module, employing non-smooth mechanics coupled with hard contact laws, has been developed for the software package RAMMS (RApid Mass Movement Simulation) at the WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF. In this paper, the major features of the RAMMS::ROCKFALL module will be first summarized. Subsequently, the principle of the modelling strategy (non-smooth mechanics coupled with hard contact laws) will be dissected and compared with the so-called discrete element model (DEM) method. Finally, a RAMMS::ROCKFALL simulation will be performed demonstrating the effectiveness of the software in capturing rockfall dynamics.
