Analytical Evaluation of Rockfall Resistance of Modular Rock-Shed for Railway Using Nonlinear Static Analysis

Recently, rockfall accidents on railways in mountainous regions have been frequently reported. Rockfall-prevention facilities are needed to solve this problem. However, access to construction equipment along railways in mountainous areas is difficult. Therefore, a three-segment modular rock shed suitable for railway construction in mountainous regions is proposed. In this study, the rockfall resistance of the proposed rock shed was evaluated using finite element analysis. The analysis model was validated by comparison with test results, and rockfall resistance was assessed under different scenarios by varying the boundary and connection details. The results showed the foundation-column connection had an insignificant influence on rockfall resistance, whereas the number of slab-column connecting bars had a significant effect. The proposed modular rock shed is designed to withstand rockfall energies ranging from approximately 1,860 to 2,890 kJ.