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Mass movement of rocks in high mountains can severely injure the population and damage man-made structures in these areas. This book focuses on the understanding of the mechanisms of rockslides and rockfalls using a quantitative approach. The range and velocity of these hazards are calculated to serve as a basis for evacuations and other preventive measures. Examples from four continents illustrate the necessity of this kind of information. The book contains a wealth of information for practitioners and scientists working in the field of catastrophe prevention.
Introduction.- Case Histories, Morphological Facts: Introductory Remarks; Pandemonium Creek; Blackhawks; Kofels; Val Pola; Vaiont; Huascaran; Synopsis of Results.- Comments on Mechanisms of Release: Causes and Signals - A Pragmatical Approach; From Cohesion to Motion; Particular Mechanisms.- Mechanisms of Disintegration: Static Disintegration; Dynamic Disintegration.- Mechanisms of Displacement: Coherent and Disintegrated Motion; Consequences of Velocity-Dependent Resistance; Falling, Rolling, Bouncing; Unlubricated Sliding; Lubrication; Fluidization; Various Mechanisms.- From Analysis to Prediction: Some Fundamentals; How to Determine Velocity; The Size Effect - A Useful Tool; Improvements - Possibilities and Limitations.- Secondary Effects: Flood Waves; Damming Effects; Various Secondary Effects.- Review of Highlights.- References.
From the reviews: "This book on Dynamics of Rockslides and Rockfalls is authored by Professor Theodor H. Erismann and the late Professor Gerhard Abele. ! the importance to analyse case histories in order to be able to back up theoretical considerations with geomorphological facts is fully recognized. The following detailed description of ! rockslides, to end up with the Huascaran event in South America makes the reading of the book quite interesting as it is well written and illustrated with excellent photographs and carefully drawn diagrams." (Giovanni Barla, Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering, Vol. 35 (2), 2002) "As the title of this book indicates, its stress is on mechanisms, particularly the mechanisms of displacement. ! the volume will be much used by professionals working at catastrophic rockslide prevention. The book ! succeeds everywhere in making one think about rockslides and rockfalls and the dangers they present." (M. Dane Picard, American Association of Petroleum Geologists, Vol. 86 (4), April, 2002)
