Original Insights Into Rock Slope Damage Processes Until Collapse From Passive Seismic Monitoring

Abstract

We conducted passive seismic monitoring of the unstable La Praz rock slope (approximately 14,000 m${}^3$) in the French Alps over a period of more than 10 years. During the six months preceding collapse, we observed a pronounced 24% decrease in the slope's fundamental resonance frequency ((f\_0)), indicating a reduction in the overall stiffness of the rock mass. Joint analysis of (f\_0) variations and slope deformation revealed alternating phases dominated by sudden brittle damage and more ductile behavior, potentially involving sliding. Seismic monitoring identified damage processes that were either ambiguous or undetectable through surface deformation measurements alone, while also highlighting critical periods of intensified damage. Although some of these periods coincided with identifiable external triggers, such as intense rainfall events, others could not be clearly linked to external forcing. These findings demonstrate the potential of passive seismic monitoring to provide insights into the internal structural condition of unstable rock slopes at depth. Combining surface deformation measurements with seismic tracking of rock mass stiffness could therefore improve the identification and characterization of active slopes undergoing progressive damage, contributing to the development of more effective slope monitoring systems.