Structure response and damage produced by ground vibration from surface mine blasting

Technical Report · Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1980

OSTI ID:6777883

Siskind, D E; Stagg, M S; Kopp, J W; Dowding, C H

Direct measurements were made of ground-vibration-produced structure responses and damage in 76 homes for 219 production blasts. These results were combined with damage data from nine other blasting studies, including the three analyzed previously for Bureau of Mines Bulletin 656. Safe levels of ground vibration from blasting range from 0.5 to 2.0 in/sec peak particle velocity for residential-type structures. The damage threshold values are functions of the frequencies of the vibration transmitted into the residences and the types of construction. Particularly serious are the low-frequency vibrations that exist in soft foundation materials and/or result from long blast-to-residence distances. These vibrations produce not only structure resonances but also excessive levels of displacement and strain. Threshold damage was defined as the occurrence of cosmetic damage; that is, the most superficial interior cracking of the type that develops in all homes independent of blasting. Homes with plastered interior walls are more susceptible to blast-produced cracking than gypsum wallboard. Structure response amplification factors were measured. Typical values were 1.5 for structures as a whole (racking) and 4 for midwalls, at their respective resonance frequencies. For blast vibrations above 40 Hz, all amplification factors for frame residential structures were less than unity. The human response and annoyance problem from ground vibration is aggravated by wall rattling, secondary noises, and the presence of airblast. Approximately 5 to 10% of the neighbors will judge peak particle velocity levels of 0.5 to 0.75 in/sec as less than acceptable (i.e., unacceptable) based on direct reactions to the vibration. Even lower levels cause psychological response problems, and thus social, economic, and public relations factors become critical for continued blasting.

• Research Organization: Bureau of Mines, Twin Cities, MN (USA). Twin Cities Research Center; Northwestern Univ., Evanston, IL (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6777883
• Report Number(s): BM-RI-8507
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
29 ENERGY PLANNING
POLICY AND ECONOMY
EXPLOSIVE FRACTURING
BLAST EFFECTS
HOUSES
SEISMIC SURVEYS
RESIDENTIAL SECTOR
SURFACE MINING
COAL MINES
CRACKS
HUMAN POPULATIONS
MECHANICAL VIBRATIONS
SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS
WALLS
BUILDINGS
COMMINUTION
FRACTURING
GEOPHYSICAL SURVEYS
INSTITUTIONAL FACTORS
MINES
MINING
POPULATIONS
RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS
SURVEYS
010900* - Coal
Lignite
& Peat- Environmental Aspects
530100 - Environmental-Social Aspects of Energy Technologies- Social & Economic Studies- (-1989)