Study of ground vibration due to rock blasting of metal quarry: a case study

Abstract

This study was carried out to compare vertical and horizontal bench blast(s) at a granitic gneiss rock quarry located in Colombo, Sri Lanka and predict the resulting peak particle velocities of ground vibration levels. To achieve these objectives, particle velocities and frequencies of 38 and 35 blasts respectively were measured in three perpendicular directions for horizontal and vertical bench blasts respectively with the use of Instantel Blastmate II seismographs. In the blasts, Ammonium Nitrate (ANFO)(blasting agent) primed by a Gelatine Dynamite primer were electrically initiated. Scaled distance parameters (Maximum charge weight per delay and distance between blasting points to monitoring location) were also recorded. The extensively used equation for seismic low of propagation proposed by Devine (1962) and Devine and Duvall (1963) was used for the prediction of peak particle velocities. Points were plotted with Peak Particle Velocity (PPV) in Y- axis against Scaled Distance (D/Q03) in X- axis. Regression analysis was performed to define the line of best fit. At the end of statistical analysis, an empirical relationship with good correlation was established for prediction of peak particle velocity. Frequency analysis was also done for dominant frequency and Zero crossing frequency to identify the effect of frequency of ground vibration to structural damages and defining the most suitable type of frequency analysis to define the single frequency value for ground vibration. The established relationship, frequency analysis and result obtained are presented.