Flexible barriers are widely utilized protection structures for rockfall disaster mitigation. Energy dissipating devices (or brakes), as an indispensable and critical component within the structure, dissipate over 60% of the rockfall impact energy. These brakes largely determine the performance of flexible barriers and represent one of the most technologically differentiated components within different manufacturers. However, existing brakes usually display inadequate performance stability, inefficient energy dissipation capacity, susceptibility to dynamic loading, and corrosion vulnerability, resulting in unexpected activation force or total energy dissipation. This study first introduced a novel aluminum alloy expansion-type brake with mixed friction and plastic deformation energy dissipation mechanism. Next, a brake sample was produced and tested to verify its feasibility of manufacture and stability of working performance. Quasi-static tests were subsequently conducted on the aluminum alloy expansion tubes—the brake's energy-dissipating components—to investigate their mechanical behavior. Parametric studies were performed to examine the influence of critical geometric parameters including wall thickness, expansion ratio, and cone angle on the mechanical performance. Drop hammer impact tests were then implemented to characterize the dynamic performance under varying impact velocities. Finally, the discrepancy in mechanical behavior between quasi-static and dynamic loading conditions was systematically examined, and suggestions on the dynamic coefficients for activation load and working load of the brake were recommended.Highlights<UnorderedList Mark="Bullet"> <ItemContent> A novel aluminum alloy expansion-type brake introduced for flexible rockfall barriers </ItemContent> <ItemContent> A brake sample verified the feasible manufacture and stable working performance </ItemContent> <ItemContent> Quasi-static tests conducted to reveal static mechanical behavior </ItemContent> <ItemContent> Drop hammer impact tests implemented to investigate dynamic performance </ItemContent> <ItemContent> Dynamic coefficients for activation load and working load of the brake </ItemContent> </UnorderedList>

Development of a Novel Expansion-Type Energy-Dissipating Device for Flexible Rockfall Barriers: Static and Dynamic Performance Analysis

期刊论文
发表日期：

2026年1月29日

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Lei Zhao,
Hong-wei Liu,
Xin Qi,
Li Zhu,
Yang Li

摘要

Flexible barriers are widely utilized protection structures for rockfall disaster mitigation. Energy dissipating devices (or brakes), as an indispensable and critical component within the structure, dissipate over 60% of the rockfall impact energy. These brakes largely determine the performance of flexible barriers and represent one of the most technologically differentiated components within different manufacturers. However, existing brakes usually display inadequate performance stability, inefficient energy dissipation capacity, susceptibility to dynamic loading, and corrosion vulnerability, resulting in unexpected activation force or total energy dissipation. This study first introduced a novel aluminum alloy expansion-type brake with mixed friction and plastic deformation energy dissipation mechanism. Next, a brake sample was produced and tested to verify its feasibility of manufacture and stability of working performance. Quasi-static tests were subsequently conducted on the aluminum alloy expansion tubes—the brake's energy-dissipating components—to investigate their mechanical behavior. Parametric studies were performed to examine the influence of critical geometric parameters including wall thickness, expansion ratio, and cone angle on the mechanical performance. Drop hammer impact tests were then implemented to characterize the dynamic performance under varying impact velocities. Finally, the discrepancy in mechanical behavior between quasi-static and dynamic loading conditions was systematically examined, and suggestions on the dynamic coefficients for activation load and working load of the brake were recommended.

Highlights

A novel aluminum alloy expansion-type brake introduced for flexible rockfall barriers

A brake sample verified the feasible manufacture and stable working performance

Quasi-static tests conducted to reveal static mechanical behavior

Drop hammer impact tests implemented to investigate dynamic performance

Dynamic coefficients for activation load and working load of the brake