Original Insights Into Rock Slope Damage Processes Until Collapse From Passive Seismic Monitoring
Authors: P. Bottelin (ISTerre, SAGE Ing{é}nierie), L. Baillet (ISTerre)
Abstract
We conducted passive seismic monitoring of the unstable La Praz rock slope (approximately 14,000 m${}^3$) in the French Alps over a period of more than 10 years. During the six months preceding collapse, we observed a pronounced 24% decrease in the slope's fundamental resonance frequency ((f\_0)), indicating a reduction in the overall stiffness of the rock mass. Joint analysis of (f\_0) variations and slope deformation revealed alternating phases dominated by sudden brittle damage and more ductile behavior, potentially involving sliding. Seismic monitoring identified damage processes that were either ambiguous or undetectable through surface deformation measurements alone, while also highlighting critical periods of intensified damage. Although some of these periods coincided with identifiable external triggers, such as intense rainfall events, others could not be clearly linked to external forcing. These findings demonstrate the potential of passive seismic monitoring to provide insights into the internal structural condition of unstable rock slopes at depth. Combining surface deformation measurements with seismic tracking of rock mass stiffness could therefore improve the identification and characterization of active slopes undergoing progressive damage, contributing to the development of more effective slope monitoring systems.
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Closest papers
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Monitoring the Preonzo Rock Slope Instability Using Resonance Mode AnalysisM. Häusler, C. Michel, J. Burjánek et al. · 2021 · Journal of Geophysical Research - Earth Surface · cited 29 times · Not summarized yet
Monitoring the Preonzo instability uses resonance-mode analysis to infer rock stiffness and fracture orientation, like this paper’s seismic tracking of slope condition.
Abstract
Reliable monitoring of unstable rock slopes is a prerequisite for successful mitigation of landslide hazards. However, most state‐of‐the art techniques rely on measuring the local surface displacement in the potential release area. In contrast, recording ambient vibration data allows for analyzing structural dynamic parameters of the unstable slope, such as resonance frequency, polarization of vibration, and energy dissipation. These parameters can be linked to properties of the instability, for example, to rock stiffness and fracture network orientation. We developed a processing method for continuous seismic data based on enhanced frequency domain decomposition modal analysis and applied i…
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Combined ambient vibration and surface displacement measurements for improved progressive failure monitoring at a toppling rock slab in Utah, USAE. Jensen, J. Moore, Paul R. Geimer et al. · 2024 · Frontiers in Earth Science · cited 6 times · Not summarized yet
The Courthouse study combines ambient resonance and crack-aperture measurements to monitor progressive failure, as this paper relates seismic changes to surface deformation.
Abstract
Seismic resonance and surface displacement measurements can be implemented in tandem to improve landslide characterization and progressive failure monitoring. Crack aperture data are frequently used in rock slope stability monitoring and often exhibit recognizable trends prior to failure, such as accelerated crack opening. Alternatively, ambient resonance data offer multiple parameters including modal frequencies, damping, and polarization that can be monitored alongside crack aperture and may respond differently to environmental forcings and complex failure evolution. We analyzed data from continuous ambient vibration monitoring and concomitant crack aperture measurements at the Courthouse …
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Seismic Noise Parameters as Indicators of Reversible Modifications in Slope Stability: A ReviewC. Colombero, D. Jongmans, Sylvain Fiolleau et al. · 2021 · Surveys in geophysics · cited 50 times · Not summarized yet
The review compares long-term ambient seismic monitoring cases, including irreversible resonance changes and reversible weather-driven fluctuations.
Abstract
Continuous ambient seismic monitoring of potentially unstable sites is increasingly attracting the attention of researchers for precursor recognition and early warning purposes. Twelve cases of long-term continuous noise monitoring have been reported in the literature between 2012 and 2020. Only in a few cases rupture was achieved and irreversible drops in resonance frequency values or shear wave velocity extracted from noise recordings were documented. On the other hand, all monitored sites showed clear reversible fluctuations of the seismic parameters on a daily and seasonal scale due to changes in external weather conditions (air temperature and precipitation). A quantitative comparison o…
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Patterns of precursory rockfall prior to slope failureN. Rosser, M. Lim, D. Petley et al. · 2007 · Journal of Geophysical Research · cited 212 times · Not summarized yet
The study tracks precursory rockfall patterns before coastal cliff failure using laser scanning rather than seismic resonance measurements.
Abstract
In this paper we examine data generated using high-resolution three-dimensional laser scanning monitoring of coastal rock cliffs. These data are used to identify spatial and temporal patterns in rockfall activity behavior prior to slope failure. Analysis of the data suggests that given sufficient measurement precision precursory behavior, here manifest as the rate of rockfall activity prior to failure, can be detected, measured, and monitored. Environmental conditions appear to have a diminishing influence on the occurrence of increasingly large slope failures. The monitoring data implies a time-dependent sequence in the occurrence of smaller rockfalls in the period leading to the largest fa…
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Coevolution of Rock Slope Instability Damage and Resonance Frequencies From Distinct‐Element ModelingE. Jensen, J. Moore · 2023 · Journal of Geophysical Research - Earth Surface · cited 10 times · Not summarized yet
The distinct-element models examine how rock-slope damage and failure kinematics affect resonance frequencies used in seismic monitoring.
Abstract
Ambient vibration measurements can detect resonance frequency changes related to rock slope instability damage or boundary condition changes during progressive failure. However, the impact of slope kinematics on resonance changes and the expected form and sensitivity of frequency evolution during destabilization require clarification to improve the implementation of this technique across diverse settings. Since instrumented rock slope failures are rare, numerical modeling is needed to study the anticipated spectral response from in situ monitoring. We used 2D distinct‐element modeling to evaluate the sensitivity and evolution of rock slope resonance behavior for slab toppling, flexural toppl…
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Changes in resonance frequency of rock columns due to thermoelastic effects on a daily scale: observations, modelling and insights to improve monitoring systemsA. Guillemot, L. Baillet, É. Larose et al. · 2022 · Geophysical Journal International · cited 15 times · Not summarized yet
The study measures and models daily resonance-frequency changes in rock columns caused by thermoelastic effects.
Abstract
Slope instabilities, including prone-to-fall rock columns, are known to exhibit clear vibrational modes. The resonance frequencies of these modes can be tracked by seismic instrumentation, allowing the rock column's mechanical and structural properties to be monitored, as well as providing precursors of imminent irreversible failures. In previous studies, superficial thermoelastic effects were assumed to drive daily fluctuations in resonance frequencies, but no qualitative or quantitative evidence was provided. The results presented here corroborate this hypothesis and quantify the physical processes involved. We interpreted daily variations of resonance frequencies in the Les Arches study s…
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Towards rockfall forecasting through observing deformations and listening to microseismic emissionsD. Arosio, L. Longoni, M. Papini et al. · 2009 · Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences · cited 76 times · Not summarized yet
The study combines deformation monitoring and microseismic emissions to investigate precursors and forecast rockfall.
Abstract
Abstract. Reliable forecasting of rockfall is a challenging task, mainly because of the lack of clearly noticeable forerunners as well as due to the geological and geo-mechanical complexity of the rock movements involved. Conventional investigation devices still present some drawbacks, since most measurements are generally carried out at isolated locations as well as on the surface only. Novel remote-sensing monitoring instruments, such as Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS) and Ground-Based Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radars (GB-InSAR), are capable of inspecting an unstable slope with a high spatial and temporal frequency. But they still rely on measurements of the failure surface, from…
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Structural Characterization of a Toppling Rock Slab From Array‐Based Ambient Vibration Measurements and Numerical Modal AnalysisE. Bessette-Kirton, J. Moore, Paul R. Geimer et al. · 2022 · Journal of Geophysical Research - Earth Surface · cited 10 times · Not summarized yet
The study uses array-based ambient-vibration modal analysis and numerical modeling to characterize the internal structure of a toppling rock slab.
Abstract
Accurate assessments of the internal structure and boundary conditions of unstable rock slopes are imperative for evaluating landslide hazard scenarios. However, instability characterization at depth remains challenging and is often limited by costly or invasive subsurface investigations. Here, we develop a new approach coupling array‐based ambient vibration modal analysis and numerical modeling to improve structural characterization of rock slope instabilities at depth. We used ambient noise cross‐correlation on 4 hr of seismic data recorded by an array of 30 nodal geophones at a 500‐m‐long toppling rock slab in Utah, USA to identify modal frequencies between 0.8 and 3.5 Hz and derive modal…
Prior work it builds on
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Meteorological Controls on Reversible Resonance Changes in Natural Rock ArchesPaul R. Geimer, R. Finnegan, J. Moore · 2022 · Journal of Geophysical Research - Earth Surface · cited 17 times · Not summarized yet
The study analyzes how meteorological conditions produce reversible resonance changes in rock arches, which can complicate damage monitoring.
Abstract
Continuous ambient seismic monitoring is becoming common for structural health assessment of geologic features. However, the ability to detect or predict permanent mechanical change associated with damage requires detailed understanding of reversible drifts in resonance attributes associated with changing meteorological conditions. Here, we analyze the response of 17 sandstone rock arches to changing meteorological conditions during extended vibration‐based monitoring, with a focus on 1 arch in Utah which was continuously monitored for 15 months. Our results show that variations in resonance are correlated with temperature on daily and yearly time scales, but that the temperature sensitivity…
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A nonlinear model coupling rockfall and rainfall intensity based \newline on a four year measurement in a high Alpine rock wall (Reintal, German Alps)M. Krautblatter, M. Moser · 2009 · Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences · cited 88 times · Not summarized yet
The study relates rainfall intensity to rockfall deposits in an Alpine rock wall, addressing an external trigger relevant to slope failure.
Abstract
Abstract. A total of more than 140 000 kg of small-magnitude rockfall deposits was measured in eight rockfall collectors of altogether 940 m2 in size between 1999–2003 below a 400–600 m high rock face in the Reintal, German Alps. Measurements were conducted with a temporal resolution up to single days to attribute rockfall intensity to observed triggering events. Precipitation was assessed by a rain gauge and high-resolution precipitation radar. Intense rainstorms triggered previously unreported rockfall intensities of up to 300 000 g/(m2h) that we term "secondary rockfall event." In comparison to dry periods without frost (10−2g/(m2h)), rockfall deposition increased by 2–218 times during we…
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A comparative study on seismic response of two unstable rock slopes within same tectonic setting but different activity levelU. Kleinbrod, J. Burjánek, M. Hugentobler et al. · 2017 · Geophysical Journal International · cited 20 times · Not summarized yet
The study compares seismic responses of two unstable rock slopes with different activity levels.
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Thermomechanical forcing of deep rock slope deformation: 2. The Randa rock slope instabilityV. Gischig, J. Moore, K. Evans et al. · 2011 · Journal of Geophysical Research · cited 110 times · Not summarized yet
The study examines thermomechanical forcing of deformation at the Randa rock-slope instability.
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Dynamic response of the Chamousset rock column (Western Alps, France)C. Lévy, L. Baillet, D. Jongmans et al. · 2010 · Journal of Geophysical Research · cited 120 times · Not summarized yet
The study characterizes the dynamic response of a rock column in the Western Alps, a related target for vibration-based monitoring.
Papers that cite it
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The study cites this paper and extends ambient-vibration modal analysis with numerical inversion to reconstruct subsurface fracture geometry.
Abstract
Detailed engineering-geological models are crucial for assessing landslide hazards, yet their reliability is limited when poorly defined fracture networks control slope failure mechanisms. Traditional surveying techniques often fail to accurately constrain fracture extents, resulting in oversimplified and uncertain boundary conditions. We address these limitations by integrating array-based ambient vibration modal analysis with numerical modelling to invert for the subsurface geometry of fracture-controlled rock slope instabilities. We applied our approach at two case studies exhibiting similar toppling failure mechanisms. Linear seismic arrays were deployed to record ambient vibrations and …
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The study cites this paper in discussing seismic-noise methods for assessing landslide rock-block hazards.
Abstract
As emphasized by Pazzi et al. 1
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