Barrier Design Library
If you select Predefined as your Model type for your Barrier, you will be given the option to select a product from the Barrier Design Library.
The Barrier Design Library includes a list of Manufacturers and associate Barrier products. The specifications for these products are pre-loaded into the RocFall3 program, allowing for quick barrier design with little data entry required.
To select a product from the Barrier Design Library:
- Select Barriers >
Define Barrier Properties in the menu. - Set the Model Type to Predefined.
- The Barrier Design Library option will appear. Click Open.
- The Design Library dialog will open. Select your preferred Manufacturer from the drop down menu and then select the product from the list on the left of the dialog.
- Once the barrier is selected, click OK.
Manufacturers currently available:
- Geobrugg
- Maccaferri
- PFEIFER Protective Structures
- RISP SLR
- Trumer Schutzbauten
In the Design Library dialog, the barrier types are displayed in a list on the left side of the dialog and the barrier properties are displayed on the right. The barrier properties are specified in two sections: Barrier Design and Tested Values.
The Barrier Design Library in RocFall3 contains barrier types with EOTA (formerly ETAG 027), WLV, or FOEN certificates. The data for these barriers cannot be changed.
You can also create your own User Defined barrier types by selecting the 
User Defined Barriers… button (See below for more details).
Barrier Design
In this section of the Design Library dialog, the barrier Name, Manufacturer, Certification, Minimum Height, Maximum Height, Rated Capacity, and Unit system are specified. These fields cannot be edited unless when creating a User Defined barrier.
Tested Values
All barriers available in the Design Library are tested at Maximum Energy Level (MEL). EOTA requires additional tests at Service Energy Level (SEL), except for systems with only 100 kJ nominal capacity. Hybrid systems are excluded from the previously mentioned testing or certification guidelines. Systems without SEL data can only be checked at MEL.
Maximum Energy Level
This is the kinetic energy of a regular block impacting the barrier with a velocity greater than or equal to 25m/s. The stopped block cannot touch the ground before the barrier reaches maximum elongation.
Service Energy Level
This is the kinetic energy of a regular block impacting the barrier with a velocity greater than or equal to 25m/s, and equal to 1/3 of the MEL. The SEL test consists of two consecutive launches. After the initial test, the residual height must be greater than 70% of the nominal height, and there can be no rupture to the barrier. The second test is carried out without any repair to the barrier, and the barrier only needs to withstand the impact.
If utilizing a User Defined Barrier, the MEL and SEL test values of the barrier can be specified.
Description of Tested Values
The following properties are specified for each pre-defined barrier, and can be defined for custom barriers:
- Capacity - The translational kinetic energy of the impact that the barrier can absorb while satisfying the elongation and residual height constraints.
- Elongation - Elongation is defined as the maximum displacement of the barrier, measured parallel to the reference slope.
- Residual Height - Residual height is defined as the minimum distance between the lower rope and the upper one measured orthogonally to the reference slope without removing the impacted block.
User Defined Barriers
If the manufacturer or product you are looking for is not currently available in the Design Library, you can add that option to the library by clicking User Defined Barriers. This option allows users to create their own library of Manufacturers and products, which can then be saved for future use. This library can also be exported and shared with other RocFall3 users.