Stress Analysis of Concrete Domes under the Rockfall Impact

Kurt Z.

Dicle Üniversitesi Mühendislik Fakültesi Mühendislik Dergisi, cilt.17, sa.1, ss.1-5, 2026 (TRDizin)

Özet

In this study, the effects of impacts caused by freely falling rocks from different heights on the structural performance of concrete domes were investigated. The variations of the maximum stresses induced by rocks falling from different elevations depending on the diameter of the falling rock and the cross-sectional wall thickness of the concrete domes are presented. Domes are important structural elements frequently preferred by designers due to their aesthetic appearance and engineering properties. As they are frequently preferred, they are exposed to different natural disasters. Rockfalls are an important natural disaster that causes damage to structures built on rugged terrains with unstable soils. Knowing the extent of the damages caused by this disaster will shed light on the design of the structures built or to be built. The results of the structural analyses show that the kinetic energy caused by the increase in the elevation of the rock fall increased the structural damages (maximum stress) considerably, and these increased structural damages were tried to be controlled with the section wall thickness. As a result of the analyses, the stress values of the dome were determined according to the height at which the rock falls. It is thought that the results of these analyses will give a preliminary idea to structural engineers and architects at the design stage.