2.
In recent years, rock fall phenomena in Italy have received considerable attention for risk mitigation through in situ observations
and experimental data. This paper reports the study conducted at Camaldoli Hill, in the urban area of Naples, and at Monte
Pellegrino, Palermo, Italy. The rocks involved are volcanic Neapolitan yellow tuff (NYT) in the former area and dolomitic
limestone in the latter. Both rocks, even though with different strength characteristics, have shown a significant tendency
towards rock fragmentation during run out. This behavior was first investigated by comparing the volumes of removable blocks
on the cliff faces (
V
0) and fallen blocks on the slopes (
V
f). It was assumed that the ratio
V
f/
V
0 decreases with the distance (
x
f) from the detachment area by an empirical law, which depends on a coefficient
α, correlated with the geotechnical properties of the materials involved in the rock fall. Finally, this law was validated
by observation of well-documented natural rock falls (Palermo) and by in situ full-scale tests (Naples). From the engineering
perspective, consideration of fragmentation processes in rock fall modeling provides a means for designing low-cost mitigation
measures.
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