Impact Test of Modular Rockfall Protection Wall

The magnitude 7.8 earthquake in Kaikoura New Zealand in 2016 caused over 50 landslides along State Highway 1, north and south of the Town.  The team of engineers tasked with reopening the corridor to road and rail traffic needed a rockfall barrier system with a small footprint and wanted to incorporate precast blocks being used elsewhere on the corridor for other purposes.  They contacted Holmes Solutions to do a full-scale impact test of the system. The precast concrete blocks are what you would see on the roadway side of the barrier.  The back side of the barrier system consists of gabion baskets with some kind of sand layer in between the baskets and the blocks.  Click on the video to see the outcome of the test!