Paper contribution

Coefficient of Restitution for Gypsum Rockfall Modeling: Insights from Field Tests and Numerical Simulations

Veselina Jovanoska; Despina Vojnoska; Mihaela Daniloska; Angela Naumcheska; Ace Trajanovski; Igor Pesevski

Proceedings
EUROCK 2026
Pages
1513-1518
Submitted
28 January 2026
Accepted
15 June 2026
Published
12 August 2026

Summary

Abstract

Appropriate determination of the coefficient of restitution is crucial for accurate rockfall numerical modeling. Although it is commonly used as a fundamental parameter in numerical models for calculating rockfall trajectories, its influence on rockfall kinematics, particularly in combination with horizontal acceleration, has not been sufficiently investigated for gypsum rock masses. This study presents an analysis based on a real test-field case in Macedonia, for which video documentation of simulated rockfalls on a gypsum slope is available, allowing direct comparison between the real scenario and results obtained from numerical simulations. Furthermore, the coefficient of restitution and horizontal acceleration are varied to examine their mutual interaction and their influence on the final simulation results. The RocFall software was used to simulate rock motion, analyzing trajectories, velocities, and bounce behavior along the slope, with special emphasis on calibration of the coefficient of restitution. As a final outcome, the study proposes a representative coefficient of restitution for the analyzed gypsum rock slope. The proposed coefficient of restitution should be further verified using additional case histories from gypsum slopes worldwide. The obtained results are considered to contribute to improved rockfall modeling and more objective risk assessment for gypsum slopes.

Contributors

Authors

  1. Veselina Jovanoska Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, Faculty of Civil Engineering in Skopje, MKD ORCID 0009-0003-4080-9023
  2. Despina Vojnoska Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, Faculty of Civil Engineering in Skopje, MKD
  3. Mihaela Daniloska Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, Faculty of Civil Engineering in Skopje, MKD
  4. Angela Naumcheska Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, Faculty of Civil Engineering in Skopje, MKD
  5. Ace Trajanovski Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, Faculty of Civil Engineering in Skopje, MKD
  6. Igor Pesevski Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, Faculty of Civil Engineering in Skopje, MKD ORCID 0000-0002-2748-5795

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References

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