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proactively monitor vibrations to prevent property damage
Are you working near a commercial structure or private residence using blasting or construction excavation methods to move material? What impact do you think you’re making on the surrounding environment?
Ground vibrations from these activities can cause damage to structures, making you responsible for repairs. Mitigate risks by using seismographs and geophones to collect vibration data, analyze the environment, and proactively plan blasting and construction activities.
Ground vibrations are complex sinusoidal waveforms traveling across the surface and through the ground. They can result from an explosion or piece of equipment impacting the ground. The vibration wave starts from the source of impact and travels outwards, similar to a ripple in water. A vibration wave has a velocity (magnitude of energy) and a frequency (duration of the wave). If these parameters fall into hazardous limits, they can cause fractures in walls, break glass, or collapse structures. They can also be a nuisance to communities, which can cause social disruptions to active operations. As the wave travels through the ground, its energy decreases (attenuates). But when will it weaken enough not to cause damage?
Seismographs and geophones help you protect nearby structures and reduce disruptions by collecting vibration data. Install them between your operation and nearby structures to gather initial data. Initially, operators can design blasts or select equipment based on industry-standard best-fit or upper-bound parameters. You can then use the collected data to develop a site-specific vibration prediction model through mathematical analysis of actual data from the site. The site-specific prediction model provides adaptations and optimizations in blasting and construction activities. Over time, collected data establishes ground vibration limits, ensuring that blasting and construction activities stay below thresholds. An operation can even analyze real-time data that displays the immediate impact of your activities, allowing you to modify your approach on the fly. Automatic alerts notify select team members of vibration readings at set limits.
Materials have resonant frequencies (at which the velocity of the vibration will be amplified) and damage thresholds. Vibrations that hit these resonant frequencies can intensify the force on materials, risking damage or outright failure if the vibration exceeds the established safety limits. Designing and planning blasts and construction excavation methods to prevent vibrations from nearing damage threshold limits of various materials will help operations safely execute their plan while maintaining a positive relationship with nearby communities. Using a Z-Curve Plot for vibration monitoring is an effective strategy, as it allows for a detailed analysis of the vibrations in relation to industry-standard damage thresholds in various construction materials, including plaster on lath and drywall structures.
If you would like to learn more about the capabilities of seismographs or discuss how vibration monitoring can be important to your site, connect with Tyler Artz (tyler.artz@respec.com) today!