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The Effect of Natural Thermal Cycles on Rock Outcrops: Knowledge and Prospect

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Abstract

In recent years, interest in the effect of positive temperatures on rock faces has increased, as evidenced by the extensive literature on the subject. The subsurface rock masses of rock slopes are submitted to uncontrollable natural temperature cycles which cause deformation, displacement, opening and closing of discontinuities and can lead to surface failure or more important rockfalls. In this paper we offer a review of the publications on this theme focusing on in situ observations and measurements. Measurements are described and analysed considering conditions of temperature and insolation, displacements, strains, focusing on two French sites (Les Rochers de Valabres and La Roque-Gageac). Mechanical analysis is then performed. The impact of temperature variation is studied from basic assumptions to much more complex ones. Thermoelasticity is first assessed, and analytical computation is suggested, fracture mechanism and fatigue are also considered. Finally, we outline some challenges to be addressed in the coming years.

Highlights

  • The article reviews the accumulated knowledge on the effect of positive temperature changes on slope stability. Excluding the effect of water freezing and thawing.

  • The different types of measurements are reviewed considering surface and in-depth measurements of temperature, displacements, fracture opening, and strain.

  • Simple thermo-elastic analysis, alongside solutions from fracture mechanics are proposed.

  • A focus is proposed on 2 French sites to illustrate interpretations.

  • The conclusion summarizes the points of consensus, the aspects that are still under discussion among authors or should be more debated and open to pending challenges for the next years.

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Data availability

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire Géomatique & Foncier (EA 4630), Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers, Case Courrier EPN01-C, 2, rue Conté, CEDEX 03 75141, Paris, France

    Véronique Merrien-Soukatchoff

  2. GeoCoD, Cerema, Avenue Albert Einstein, CS 70499, 13593, Aix en Provence, CEDEX 03, France

    Muriel Gasc-Barbier

  3. Risk Analysis Group, Institute of Earth Sciences, University of Lausanne, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland

    Véronique Merrien-Soukatchoff

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  1. Véronique Merrien-Soukatchoff
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Appendix

Appendix

See Tables 6, 7 and 8.

Table 6 Notations used in the paper
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Table 7 Thermoelastic parameters: definitions and values for the gneissic rock of Les Rochers de Valabres (modified from Gunzburger et al. 2005)
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Table 8 Thermoelastic parameters: the limestone of La Roque-Gageac
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Merrien-Soukatchoff, V., Gasc-Barbier, M. The Effect of Natural Thermal Cycles on Rock Outcrops: Knowledge and Prospect. Rock Mech Rock Eng 56, 6797–6822 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-023-03420-1

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