The application of cliff degradation models for estimation of the initial height of rammed-earth walls (Por-Bajin Fortress, Southern Siberia, Russia)

Abstract

The main objective of this study is to recover the initial geometry of earthen walls from the shape of wall remains. The original parameters of the walls have been estimated by fitting the field-measured profiles with the theoretical shape predicted by the model. We estimate: (i) the initial wall height (between 2 and 3m); (ii) their shape (vertical or nearly vertical); and (iii) the time for complete degradation (between 250 and 400 years, depending on wall orientation). We show that this approach yields the best results when the main degradation factor is the temperature gradient, as it is for south-oriented wall faces.