Seismometric monitoring of hypogeous failures due to slope deformations

Abstract

Results from a seismometric monitoring of rock mass failures affecting a karstified slope are here presented. The slope, located in Central Apennines (Italy), hosts a drainage plant and is involved in gravity-induced deformations. Starting from September 4, 2008 four accelerometric stations were installed within the tunnels of the drainage plant. More than 1,000 events, referred to both earthquakes and hypogeous rock mass failures, were recorded. The frequencies of occurrence of earthquakes and rock mass failures result to be generally well correlated; nevertheless, many hypogeous instabilities can be directly associated to the continuous slope deformations. The trend of the cumulative Arias intensity derived for the hypogeous instabilities shows a time variable rate which was used as a tool for monitoring the deformational process of the slope as well as for managing the associated geological risk by the use of alert or alarm plans. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2013.