System And Method For Mitigating Rockfalls

An energy absorbing attenuator especially adapted for use within a rockfall mitigation system, said attenuator comprising:

• a plurality of support members connected to one another in a geometric pattern;
• each support member having a first end connected to a first connector and a second end connected to a second connector;
• each attenuator having a geometric shape with a plurality of sides formed by the support members connected in the geometric pattern;
• and
• wherein space between each of said plurality of support members is open and wherein an interior of each attenuator is open thereby forming a framed attenuator structure.

A method of mitigating rockfall events on a sloping surface, the method comprising:

• positioning a primary barrier layer having a width extending laterally across the sloping surface and a length extending down the sloping surface;
• installing a plurality of attenuators that are spaced laterally from one another and spaced laterally across the width of the primary barrier layer;
• securing a supporting cable to extend laterally across the sloping surface, wherein an upper portion of the primary barrier layer is attached to said supporting cable, and each of said plurality of attenuators are secured to said supporting cable;
• installing a first anchor point for securing a first end of said supporting cable and installing a second anchor point for securing a second opposite end of said supporting cable;
• and
• wherein each attenuator has a plurality of support members connected to one another in a geometric pattern, each support member having a first end connected to a first connector and a second end connected to a second connector, and further wherein each attenuator has a geometric shape with a plurality of sides formed by the support members connected in the geometric pattern.

A system for mitigating rockfall events on a sloping surface, the system comprising:

• a barrier layer having a width extending laterally across the sloping surface and a length extending down the sloping surface;
• a plurality of attenuators spaced laterally from one another and spaced laterally across the width of the barrier layer, each of said attenuators having a plurality of support members connected to one another in a geometric pattern, each support member having a first end connected to a first connector and a second end connected to a second connector, and wherein each attenuator has a geometric shape with a plurality of sides formed by the support members connected in the geometric pattern;
• a supporting cable extending laterally across the sloping surface, wherein upper portions of the barrier layer is attached to said supporting cable, and each of said plurality of attenuators are secured to said supporting cable;
• and
• first and second anchor points for securing opposite ends of said supporting cable to the sloping surface.

A system for mitigating rockfall events on a sloping surface and an adjacent grade, the system comprising:

• (a) a first barrier mounted on the sloping surface comprising:
• a first barrier layer having a width extending laterally across the sloping surface and a length extending down the sloping surface;
• a plurality of first attenuators spaced laterally from one another and spaced laterally across the width of the first barrier layer, each of said first attenuators having a plurality of first support members connected to one another in a geometric pattern, each first support member having a first end connected to a first connector and a second end connected to a second connector, and wherein each first attenuator has a geometric shape with a plurality of sides formed by the first support members connected in the geometric pattern;
• a first supporting cable extending laterally across the sloping surface, wherein upper portions of the first barrier layer are attached to said first supporting cable, and each of said plurality of first attenuators are secured to said first supporting cable;
• and
• first anchor points for securing opposite lateral ends of said first supporting cable to the sloping surface;
• and
• (b) a second barrier mounted on the adjacent grade comprising:
• a second barrier layer having a width extending laterally across a grad surface;
• a plurality of second attenuators spaced laterally from one another and spaced laterally across the width of the second barrier layer, each of said second attenuators having a plurality of second support members connected to one another in a geometric pattern, each second support member having a first end connected to a first connector and a second end connected to a second connector, and wherein each second attenuator has a geometric shape with a plurality of sides formed by the second support members connected in the geometric pattern;
• a second supporting cable extending laterally across the grade surface, wherein upper portions of the second barrier layer are attached to said second supporting cable, and each of said plurality of second attenuators are secured to said second supporting cable;
• and
• second anchor points for securing opposite lateral ends of said second supporting cable to the grade surface.

A system for mitigating rockfall events on a grade surface, the system comprising:

• a barrier layer having a width extending laterally across the grade surface and a length extending substantially perpendicular to the grade surface;
• a plurality of attenuators spaced laterally from one another and spaced laterally across the width of the barrier layer, each attenuator having a plurality of support members connected to one another in a geometric pattern, each support member having a first end connected to a first connector and a second end connected to a second connector, and wherein each attenuator has a geometric shape with a plurality of sides formed by the support members connected in the geometric pattern;
• a supporting cable extending laterally across the grade surface, wherein an upper portion of the barrier layer is attached to said supporting cable, and each of said plurality of attenuators are secured to said supporting cable;
• a first anchor point for securing a first end of said supporting cable;
• and
• a second anchor point for securing a second opposite end of said supporting cable.