This work discusses the laboratory geotechnical characterization made with rocky materials coming from the Arteara rock avalanche, situated in Gran Canaria island. The study is based on laboratory test obtained for seven different lithotypes. The aim of them is to define strength and deformational parameters enabling subsequent modelling of the avalanche. The laboratory tests carried out included: the determination of porosity and absorption of the rock, the measurement of wave propagation speed, the evaluation of the strength in triaxial compression tests made in a Hoek cell and the shear strength in direct shear tests.
The aim of this work is the description of the geotechnical properties of the volcanic materials existing in Arteara rock avalanche, located in Fataga ravine, in the south of Gran Canaria island (Canary Islands, Spain) (Figure 1).
The geomorphology of this rock avalanche was studied previously (Yepes et al., 2009) and the material involved in this deposit was described in a previous work (Rodríguez-Peces et al. 2013), where the mechanical behavior of rocks were estimated by alternative indirect methods. The rock strength was determined by means of several in situ test using a L-type Schimdt Hammer, and PLT in laboratory conditions. The results of both geotechnical tests were correlated with uniaxial compressive strength, indirect tensile strength and Young's modulus following empirical correlations. The basic friction angle was obtained by means of the tilt test (Rodríguez-Peces et al., 2013).
At the present study, the geotechnical characterization is based on laboratory tests such as triaxial or direct shear tests. Moreover, the characterization of lithotypes was completed with other tests as the determination of real density, porosity, absorption or Pwave velocities.
As result of the study there is a complete geotechnical characterization of the lithotypes involved in Arteara rock avalanche. Those values will support the future modelling of this rock avalanche.
