The Different Types of Rockfall Drapes

Rockfalls can have very devastating effects on infrastructure. When rockfalls happen either on valleys or cliffs, the roads and railway lines below them suffer. Houses that are located in areas experiencing rockfalls could also be in danger of suffering tremendous damage. Rockfall drapes help protect all this infrastructure from damage caused by falling rocks.

Rockfalls are formed by putting a mesh around areas that experience rockfalls, and some rockfall drapes have tensile strengths up to 160kN/m according to Mining Technology. This makes them able to hold back heavy rockfalls and protect roads, railway lines, and houses. Here are three major types of rockfall drapes.

The Simple Revetment Drapery System

In this type of drapery system, the mesh is put over the cliff or valley to guide the rockfalls to the foot of the cliff. Rockfall drapes installed in this pattern loosely cover the surface of the cliff and leave spaces on the inside. While rockfalls can happen with this method, the rocks cannot leave the cover of the drapes. All the rock particles that fall off are guided to the foot of the cliff. Since the falling rocks cannot escape the mesh, the users of the roads or railway lines are safe.

The Surficial Reinforcement Drapery System

In this rockfall draping system, drapes are installed to strengthen the rock-mass surface. The nets use a higher gauge and are tightly connected to the surface. The purpose of this draping system is to ensure that rocks don't come off the cliff at all. The drapes are made to prevent rock detachment by holding every rock in its place. The meshes used have a high tensile strength that enables them to consolidate the surface layer of the slope. The strength of the rockfall drapes can be reinforced during manufacturing using high tensile steel cables that are woven into the mesh.

The High-Energy Absorption Panels

The high-energy absorption panels are made from single high tensile steel ropes that are woven to form a mesh. They are used where high-strength stiffness is required to hold together large rock particles from falling. They combine soft steel and cables to handle both big and small rocks.

Rockfall drapery plays an important role in ensuring that our roads, railway lines, and even homes are safe. Places that have been previously thought uninhabitable have been made habitable by rockfall drapes. In need of rockfall draping services? Call us today at Ameritech Slope Constructors to get started.