Ground reinforced embankment (GRE) is a common and efficient rockfall mitigation measure. However, due to the diversity of geometric dimensions and composite components of the embankments worldwide, the design methods have not yet been unified. This article proposes a DEM-based framework for modeling the GREs impacted by rockfalls, and to optimize the structural design by comparing the block-intercepting performance. The numerical model based on MatDEM is validated by restoring the Peila's field tests, and the simulated materials are calibrated by comparing the laboratory test results. The design elements can be determined through simulated impact tests, with the site topography and rockfall trajectory as prerequisite information. The simulation test results show that the structural positions and cross-sectional shapes alter the interaction between rockfalls and embankments, thereby affecting the block-intercepting capacity. Under the impact of high-energy blocks, the characteristic of structural failure is that the extrusion of the downhill face is greater than the displacement of the uphill face, which can be used as a criteria to determine the reasonable design elements. The proposed framework can be applied to an actual site and maximize the cost-benefit performance of design depending on the site space and budget conditions.

Ground reinforced embankment (GRE) is an economical and efficient protection measure against rockfalls. In various design guidelines of ground reinforced embankments, the impact force of the rockfall is the principal factor, which is significantly affected by rockfall shape. This article conducts real scale tests and numerical tests to observe the external deformation behavior and the internal dynamic response of GREs subjected to lateral impact. Five shapes of the rockfalls corresponding to three contact types are set up in the tests. The experimental results show that the impact surface shapes of the rockfalls govern the penetration deformation patterns of the embankments, and the deformation extent of the disturbed soils. For different contact types between rockfalls and construction materials, the failure mode of the geosynthetics and the displacement distribution of the disturbed soils are distinguishing. The disturbed soils can be divided into two parts, the part surrounds the rockfall mainly expands laterally, and the rest is extruded and slips backward. Basically, the sharpness of the rockfall results in the deeper penetration and the smaller impact force. The influence of the rockfall shape needs to be carefully considered in the design of ground reinforced embankments.