Ricerca e sviluppo

Advanced Modeling and Simulation of Rockfall Attenuator Barriers
Attenuator barriers, in contrast to conventional safety nets, tend to smoothly guide impacting rocks instead of absorbing large amounts of strain energy arresting them. It has been shown that the rock’s rotation plays an important role in the bearing capacity of these systems. In order to support the engineer’s design decision, reinforce test results and confidently predict barrier performance beyond experimental configurations this work describes an appropriate numerical modeling and simulation method of this coupled problem. For this purpose, the Discrete Element Method (DEM) and the Finite Element Method (FEM) are coupled in an open-source multi-physics code.

New edition of the TECCO® book
The updated version with new chapters on CE-marking, large field tests, and our dimensioning tool RUVOLUM®. Available as a PDF on geobrugg.com/downloads.

Full-scale testing of rockfall nets in real terrain (below Innosuisse Project 2019)
Rockfall impacts with a flexible barrier include both translational and rotational kinetic energy. Traditionally rotational energy is not included in barrier design.The dissipation of translational kinetic energy has been considered only in idealized conditions, such as free-fall experiments. To study how rockfall barriers absorb rotational and translational energies in realistic conditions we performed a series of full-scale rockfall tests in natural terrain. The presented methodologies pave the way to a comprehensive understanding of rock-ground and rock-net interaction, a key requirement to improve the design of flexible barriers that account for the role of rock shape, spin and eccentric impacts in rockfall protection.

New FIA Standard: Geobrugg Motorsport Fences first to be homologated
FIA (Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile) governing body of the motorsport introduced a new standard with performance criteria. The first homologated products are the Geobrugg motorsport fences: the Debris Fence and the Mobile Debris Fence meet the requirements of FIA Standard 3502-2018 debris fence.

Prix INOX
SWISS INOX, an association which promotes the use of stainless steel awards Geobrugg and its research partner WITg for their high-tensile stainless steel chainlink mesh.

Flexible debris flow barriers and their service ability proof
The first research on a serviceability method for scour and erosion issues on flexible debris flow nets. Design and calculation will be more economically and safely, maintenance costs will be minimized and a longer lifetime of the entire barrier system, including anchors as the most cost-intensive parts, can be provided. Impressions of the small field tests.

Innosuisse project: Rockfall Tests
In order to obtain new measurement data to improve the design of rockfall protection nets and the SLF rockfall simulation programme, SLF researchers and Geobrugg are testing at the Flüela Pass.

World's first dimensionable attenuator system
Geobrugg developed together with international experts an attenuator protection solution which can be efficiently dimensioned. This innovative rockfall protection is a modified rockfall drape providing particularly efficient protection. It was presented in British Columbia/Canada in August 2018.

Geobrugg Dimensioning Software: Updates
RUVOLUM® (launched in 1999), DEBFLOW, SHALLSLIDE or SPIDER® online tool offer new functions e.g. 3D view, larger selection of nails, recommended nail inclination, anchor-plate assembly or additional drawings illustrating the acting forces and indicate the crucial parameters.

Rockfall barrier tested for 10'000 kJ
A world first in the highest energy class, the RXE-10000 rockfall protection barrier was tested in October 2017. It was granted approval number ETA 17/0947 by the European Organisation for Technical Approvals (EOTA) in May 2018.

Smart Barrier Development
Prototype monitoring device for impact acceleration and corrosion

RXE-500 rockfall barrier with ETAG 027 approval
RXE-500 rockfall barrier has become ETA-certified for heights between 3 and 5 meters. In the 100 kJ to 8000 kJ energy classes we offer protection systems stringently tested and approved in all standard heights. All RXE systems are certified both by EOTA and FOEN guidelines and bear the CE-certificate.

TECCO® System
Geobrugg amplia la propria gamma di prodotti mirati alla stabilizzazione dei versanti: Il nuovo TECCO® System, con tre diverse capacità di resistenza del filo, è adattabile a quasi tutti i tipi di scarpate, che sia roccioso, di terra o misto.

Barriera paramassi certificata per 8000 kJ

Primato mondiale nella classe energetica più alta, la barriera paramassi RXE-8000 ha ricevuto il numero di approvazione ETA-12/0213 dello European Organisation for Technical Approvals (EOTA), nel luglio 2012.

2011: Barriere paradetriti Geobrugg

Uno dei primi circuiti di gara ad essere equipaggiato con la nuova Barriera paradetriti Geobrugg per la sicurezza degli spettatori è stato il Circuit Dijon-Prenois, in Francia.

Barriera paramassi

Le barriere paramassi GBE ricevono la certificazione CE a livello mondiale, conformemente allo EOTA.

Debris Flow Design Concept officially accepted
The Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL) confirm the effectiveness of Geobrugg's debris flow barriers designed with an analytic model and a numerical finite element model. The Deb-Flow-Design is now used for our debris flow and shallow landslide barriers (VX-, UX and SL-barriers).

Barriera paramassi

Le barriere paramassi GBE ricevono la certificazione CE a livello mondiale, conformemente allo EOTA.

World record 3'000 kJ
To mark its 50th birthday, Geobrugg presents a new record: the first (FOEN) certified rockfall protection barrier.

1999: Rete TECCO®

1990: Reti ad anello

1975: Anelli frenanti per barriere paramassi

Reti ad anello

First 1:1 rockfall tests
The world's first 1:1 rockfall tests  with flexible barriers were carried out in California under the leadership of CALTRANS with an RX-type barrier.

Anelli frenanti per barriere paramassi

Anelli frenanti per barriere paramassi

Prima prova di caduta massi

Prima prova di caduta massi

Invention of a wire rope net
The Kabelwerke Brugg (now BRUGG Group) develops networks for the first trials in avalanche prevention.