Ground vibrations from sheetpile driving in urban environment: measurements, analysis and effects on buildings and occupants

Following a comprehensive review of the subject of man-made ground vibrations, measurements of ground vibration caused by vibratory sheetpile driving in recent soil deposits are reported in terms of particle velocities vs. distance from the source of vibration. The measurements were conducted on paved surfaces and sidewalks in the inner urban environment. Reconstructed particle displacement paths indicated, predominantly, vertical vibrations of the Rayleigh type. The attenuation rate of vibrations with distance was compared to published results of other studies and satisfactory agreement was found to exist. Values of particle velocity measured in this study, however, were lower than corresponding values of other studies under comparable values of rated vibratory kinetic energy. This is possibly due to different soil conditions. Average and upper bound linear log–log attenuation relationships are proposed, which fit the results of measurements and are representative of the conditions likely to be encountered in the urban environment. Measurement of vibrations on higher floors of multistory reinforced concrete buildings indicated a significant amplification of vertical vibration and an average curve for amplification magnitude vs. floor level was fitted to the results of measurements. A comparison of measured values of vibration with the observed performance of buildings and with damage threshold values suggested by existing codes and standards indicated that the latter do not provide safety against damage caused by vibratory densification of loose sandy soils. On the other hand, the existing criteria for human exposure to vibrations in buildings, according to the results of this study, seem to adequately define the degrees of human discomfort.     

Use of the standing wave method to study seismically insulated buildings

The use of the standing wave method to study seismically insulated buildings is substantiated. For two buildings of interest with different types of seismic protection (a “flexible” floor and rubber base insulators), the total field of standing waves is studied in detail. Effects that raise doubts about the reliability of seismic protection are found. Estimation of the role of nonlinear vibrations in standing waves has made it possible to establish that weak nonlinearity is recorded at high-frequency modes at small vibration amplitudes, due to discordant vibrations of the building components. The data obtained by the standing wave method are recommended for verifying models used to calculate seismic insulation of buildings.     

In-situ experimental investigation of the influence of structure characteristics on subway-induced building vibrations

Many types of buildings have been widely constructed in the vicinity of subway lines in China. Normal life and business activities are hampered by excessive subway-induced vibrations. This study aims to determine the influence of structure characteristics on structure-borne vibrations, generally based on experimental results. Vibration measurements were performed in four typical sites in Wuxi, China, involving over-track buildings, along-track buildings, frame structure buildings and a masonry building. Special structure designs like structure transfer floor were also included. Then, the captured data was analyzed in the time domain and the frequency domain. Furthermore, the influence of building location, structure type and structure layout was investigated. Finally, vibrations were evaluated with ISO and Chinese criteria and structure optimization for vibration attenuation was proposed. It is found that over-track buildings are more severely affected than along-track buildings. Higher frequency contents(20-60 Hz) in over-track buildings and lower frequency contents(0-10 Hz) in along-track buildings should be seriously considered in vibration control. Weaker structure member joints and lower material strength would be beneficial to over-track buildings while the inverse situation would be beneficial to along-track buildings. The application of structure transfer floor-generally stiffer structure members and structure discontinuity-is also beneficial.     

Study of the train-induced vibration impact on a historic Bell Tower above two spatially overlapping metro lines

There is concern regarding the long-term vibration effects caused by metro trains on historic buildings. In this paper, the impact of metro train-induced vibrations on the Bell Tower in Xi’an above two spatially overlapping tunnels was studied.Metro Line 2 has been operational since 2011, and Line 6 is still under construction. To study and control the effect of micro vibrations on the Bell Tower, a metro train–track–tunnel–soil 3D dynamic FE model was developed. The vibration response generated by Line 2 was then predicted, and the influences of train speed on ground vibration were analysed. In addition, a detailed in situ measurement, which helped calibrate the numerical model and determine the dynamic behaviour of timber structures, was performed. Finally, the calibrated models and measured results were used to predict vibrations caused by road traffic and trains from two spatially overlapping metro lines. This was performed under different route schemes and train operation conditions.The results showed that installing steel spring floating slab tracks (FST) and decreasing train speeds had obvious effects on controlling the ground peak particle velocity (PPV). Simulated results from both the input impulse and output response generated by metro Line 2 matched well with actual measurements. If correct designs are employed, it is possible to resolve the vibration problem on historic buildings caused by metro trains.     

Numerical modeling of vibrations induced by railway traffic in tunnels: From the source to the nearby buildings

In this paper, a numerical approach for the prediction of vibrations induced in buildings due to railway traffic in tunnel is proposed. The numerical method is based on a sub-structuring approach, where the train is simulated by a multi-body model; the track–tunnel–ground system is modeled by a 2.5D FEM–PML approach; and the building by resource to a 3D FEM method. The coupling of the building to the ground is established taking into account the soil–structure-interaction (SSI). The methodology proposed allows dealing with the three-dimensional characteristics of the problem with a reasonable computational effort. Using the proposed model, a numerical study is developed in order to better discern the impact of the use of floating slabs systems for the isolation of vibrations in the tunnel on the dynamic response of a building located in the surrounding of the tunnel. The comparison between isolated and non-isolated scenarios allowed concluding that the mats stiffness is a key parameter on the efficiency of floating slab systems. Furthermore, it was found that the selection of the stiffness of the mats should be performed carefully in order to avoid amplification of vertical vibrations of the slabs of the building.     

Elasto-plastic long-term behavior of granular soils: Modelling and experimental validation

Repeated small amplitude dynamic loading of the soil in the vicinity of buildings, as arising from traffic or construction activities, may cause differential foundation settlements and structural damage. In this paper, an accumulation model for settlements due to vibrations at small strain levels in granular non-cohesive soils is proposed. It is assumed that the dynamic part of the stresses is small with respect to the static part. As plastic deformation in the soil is only observed after a considerable amount of dynamic loading cycles, only the accumulation of the average plastic deformation is considered. The model accounts for the dependency of the deformation on the stress state, the void ratio, and the dynamic loading amplitude. The model is calibrated for homogeneous fine grained sands with the aid of cyclic triaxial test results.     

Experimental evaluation of changes of dynamic properties of buildings on different grounds

The paper presents an experimental evaluation of changes of dynamic properties (periods of natural vibrations and damping) of three identical precast concrete panel buildings of S storeys and a basement resting on different grounds. Building vibrations were excited by firing of explosives in a quarry. On the basis of the investigations, it may be said that a change of flexibility of the foundation medium under the same low buildings distinctly influences the change of the first natural periods (in two mutually perpendicular directions parallel to the longitudinal and transverse axes) of the buildings.     

Linking of adjacent three-storey buildings for mitigation of structural pounding during earthquakes

The reports after major earthquakes indicate that the earthquake-induced pounding between insufficiently separated buildings may lead to significant damage or even total collapse of structures. An intensive study has recently been carried out on mitigation of pounding hazards so as to minimize the structural damages or prevent collisions at all. The aim of this paper is to investigate the effectiveness of the method when two adjacent three-storey buildings with different (substantially different) dynamic properties are connected at each storey level by link elements (springs, dashpots or viscoelastic elements). The results of the study indicate that connecting the structures by additional link elements can be very beneficial for the lighter and more flexible building. The largest decrease in the response of the structure has been obtained for links with large stiffness or damping values, which stands for the case when two buildings are fully connected and vibrate in-phase. Moreover, by comparing the effectiveness of different types of link elements, it has been confirmed that the use of viscoelastic elements reduces the peak displacement of the structure at lower stiffness and damping values comparing to the case when spring and dashpot elements are applied alone. On the other hand, the results of the study demonstrate that applying the additional link elements does not really change the response of the heavier and stiffer building. The final conclusion of the study indicates that linking two buildings allows us to reduce the in-between gap size substantially while structural pounding can be still prevented.     

Attenuation of ground vibrations using in-filled wave barriers

Ground vibrations generated by construction activities can adversely affect the structural health of adjacent buildings and foundations supporting them. Therefore propagation and rate of attenuation of construction induced ground vibrations is important during construction activities, particularly in urban areas where constructions are carried out in the vicinity of existing structures. In practice wave barriers are installed in the ground to mitigate the ground vibration propagation and hence to minimise the effect of ground vibrations on surrounding structures. Different types of fill materials such as bentonite, EPS geofoam and concrete are used in constructing wave barriers. In this study, a three-dimensional finite element model is developed to study the efficiency of different fill materials in attenuating ground vibrations. The model is first verified using data from full scale field experiments, where EPS geofoam has been used as a fill material in wave barriers. Then the same model has been used to evaluate the efficiency of open trenches, water filled wave barriers and EPS geofoam filled wave barriers on attenuation of ground vibrations. EPS geofoam is found to be the most efficient fill material, providing attenuation efficiency closer to open trenches. The efficiency of EPS geofoam and water filled wave barriers can be significantly increased by increasing the depth of the wave barrier.     

Earthquake-induced pounding between equal height multi-storey buildings considering soil-structure interaction

The present paper investigates the coupled effect of the supporting soil flexibility and pounding between neighbouring, insufficiently separated equal height buildings under earthquake excitation. Two adjacent three-storey structures, modelled as inelastic lumped mass systems with different structural characteristics, have been considered in the study. The models have been excited using a suit of ground motions with different peak ground accelerations and recorded at different soil types. A nonlinear viscoelastic pounding force model has been employed in order to effectively capture impact forces during collisions. Spring-dashpot elements have been incorporated to simulate the horizontal and rotational movements of the supporting soil. The results of the numerical simulations, in the form of the structural nonlinear responses as well as the time-histories of energy dissipated during pounding-involved vibrations, are presented in the paper. In addition, the variation in storeys peak responses and peak dissipated energies for different gap sizes are also shown and comparisons are made with the results obtained for colliding buildings with fixed-base supports. Observations regarding the incorporation of the soil-structure interaction and its effect on the responses obtained are discussed. The results of the study indicate that the soil-structure interaction significantly influences the pounding-involved responses of equal height buildings during earthquakes, especially the response of the lighter and more flexible structure. It has been found that the soil flexibility decreases storey peak displacements, peak impact forces and peak energies dissipated during vibrations, whereas it usually leads to the increases in the peak accelerations at each storey level.     

Urban seismic stations: soil–structure interaction assessment by spectral ratio analyses

In this work we present and discuss the results of ambient seismic noise analyses computed at four sites where seismic stations, managed by the INGV (Italian Institute for Geophysics and Vulcanology) and the DPC (Italian Department of Civil Protection), are installed inside buildings. The experiments were performed considering different types of installation: sensor located at the bottom of a school, directly installed on rock (case 1); sensor located at the bottom of a medieval fortress, built on an isolate hill, directly installed on rock (case 2); sensor installed on the foundations of a medieval fortress, built on an isolate hill (case 3); sensor installed on the foundations of a school, built on alluvial deposits (case 4). Since recent works proposed the use of spectral ratio techniques to study the dynamic characterization of buildings, ambient seismic-noise measurements were performed for each site close to the stations (at the base of the structures), at the top of the structures and outside the buildings. In order to check the source of vibrations both horizontal to vertical spectral ratio (HVNR) and standard spectral ratio (SSR) techniques were applied. For all stations the results from ambient seismic noise were compared to those obtained from earthquakes (HVSR). In order to detect preferential directions of amplification, for each site average HVNRs and HVSRs were computed considering one azimuth for each set of 5°. We obtain different results for different types of installation: in cases 1 and 2, where the sensors are directly installed on rock, the vibrations of the structure do not affect the noise measures performed close to the stations, which show flat HVNR in the whole frequency range: in both cases the eigenfrequency of the building is given by the HVNR calculated from the measures performed at the top of the structure. In cases 3 and 4, where the sensors are installed on the foundations of the considered structures, both the amplification peaks between 5 and 9 Hz (case 3) and between 5.5 and 7 Hz (case 4) include the contribution of the free oscillations of the buildings. In particular, in case 4, HVNRs performed outside building highlight possible soil–structure resonance effects in case of an earthquake.     

Evaluation of the measured seismic response of the Mexico City Cathedral

The seismic response of the Mexico City Cathedral built of very soft soil deposits is evaluated by using motions recorded in various parts of the structure during several moderate earthquakes. This unique set of records provides significant insight into the seismic response of this and other similar historic stone masonry structures. Free‐field ground motions are carefully compared in time and frequency domains with motions recorded at building basement. The dynamic characteristics of the structure are inferred from the earthquake records by using system identification techniques. Variation of seismic response for different seismic intensities is discussed. It is shown that, due to the soil–structure interaction, due to large differences between dominant frequencies of earthquake ground motions at the site and modal frequencies of vibration of the structure, and due to a particularly high viscous damping, seismic amplifications of ground motion in this and similar historic buildings erected on soft soil deposits are much smaller than that induced in most modern constructions. Nevertheless, earthquake records and analytical results show that several components of the structure such as its central dome and the bell towers may be subjected to local vibrations that significantly amplify ground motions. Overall, results indicate that in its present state the structure has an acceptable level of seismic safety. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

某水工隧洞爆破震动对周边建筑物影响的试验分析

隧道开挖时的爆破震动对周边建筑物安全影响很大,但目前对不同爆破参数、周边建筑的距离与爆破开挖之间关系的研究成果不多,实际工程中也难以把握。以宁夏固原市某水工隧道工程为依托,采用现场试验的方法,对地表关键位置质点爆破振动频率与振动速度进行测试和分析。结果表明:(1)经测试发现房屋主振频率在10~60Hz间,而一般房屋建筑的频率均小于10Hz,说明此次试验中爆破震动不能与房屋产生共振。(2)对试验数据进行分析,并依据爆破震动规范安全振速标准进行判别,发现此次试验中土坯房的安全距离为160 m,一般砖房为60 m。研究结果可为隧道爆破的设计与施工提供理论依据,为类似隧道的爆破工程及解决由爆破引起的纠纷提供借鉴。     

Comparison between seismic vulnerability models and experimental dynamic properties of existing buildings in France

Elastic fundamental frequency is a key-parameter of simplified seismic design and vulnerability assessment methods. Empirical relationships exist in codes to estimate this frequency but they miss experimental data to validate them accounting for national feature of building design and, above all, corresponding uncertainties. Even if resonance frequency extracted from ambient vibrations may be larger than the elastic frequency (at yield) generally used in earthquake engineering, ambient vibration recordings may provide a large set of data for statistical analysis of periods versus building characteristics relationships. We recorded ambient vibrations and estimated the fundamental frequency of about 60 buildings of various types (RC and masonry) in Grenoble City (France). These data complete the set existing yet, made of 26 RC-buildings of Grenoble (Farsi and Bard 2004) and 28 buildings in Nice (France) (Dunand 2005). Statistical analysis of these experimental data was performed for fundamental frequencies of RC shear wall structures and the results are compared with existing relationships. Only building height or number of stories has a statistical relevancy to estimate the resonance frequency but the variability associated to the proposed relationships is large. Moreover, we compared the elastic part of capacity curves of RC and masonry buildings used in the European Risk-UE method for vulnerability assessment with the experimental frequencies. The variability is also large and the curves may not be consistent with French existing buildings.     

Attenuation of ground vibrations due to different technical sources

The attenuation of technically induced surface waves is studied theoretically and experimentally.In this paper, nineteen measurements of ground vibrations induced by eight different technical sources including road and rail traffic, vibratory and impulsive construction work or pile driving, explosions, hammer impulses and mass drops are described, and it is shown that the technically induced ground vibrations exhibit a power-law attenuation v～r-q where the exponents q are in the range of 0.5 to 2.0 and depend on the source types.Comparisons performed demonstrate that the measured exponents are considerably higher than theoretically expected.Some potential effects on ground vibration attenuation are theoretically analyzed.The most important effect is due to the material or scattering damping.Each frequency component is attenuated exponentially as exp(-kr), but for a broad-band excitation, the sum of the exponential laws also yields a power law but with a high exponent.Additional effects are discussed, for example the dispersion of the Rayleigh wave due to soil layering, which yields an additional exponent of 0.5 in cases of impulsive loading.     

山西中部地震灾害预测与防震减灾对策

本简要介绍了山西中部（３２个县市）的历史地震灾害,在对建筑物的类型进行划分的基础上,用地震安全性评价的综合概率法计算了每个单元遭遇烈度的概率,根据各类建筑物的易损性矩阵和不同类型单元的人员震亡、伤率矩阵,计算得出３２个单元建筑物的期望经济损失和人员伤亡期望绝对值,并对计算结果进行了分析和比较,最后提出防震减灾对策。     

复杂环境水下控制爆破工程影响效应测试分析

结合某沉管隧道沉管段基槽开挖工程,采用爆破动态效应的现场测试、理论分析等综合手段,探索水下爆破水中冲击波和爆破地震波动对邻近建筑物的动态效应特性。研究表明:(1)与地震波的峰值压力值相比,浅水条件下钻孔爆破水中冲击波压力值较小,传播速度也没有地震波快,特定情况下,在考量岸边堤岸及岸边建筑物的稳定性时可以忽略水冲击波的影响;(2)对于不同区域爆破施工来说,应根据其距离被保护对象的远近,选择各允许最大药量中的最小值作为最大爆破控制药量。研究成果对类似工程具有一定的借鉴意义。     

Application of neural networks in natural periods identification and simulation of prefabricated buildings response

The paper deals with an application of neural networks for detection of natural periods of vibrations of prefabricated, medium height buildings. The neural network technique is also used to simulate the dynamic response at selected floor of one of the analysed buildings subject to seismic loading induced by explosives in a nearby quarry. Both the training and testing patterns were formulated on the basis of measurements performed on actual structures. The results of neural network identification of natural periods of the considered buildings obtained with different soil, geometrical and stiffness parameters are compared with the results of experiments. The application of back-propagation neural networks enables us to identify the natural periods of the buildings with accuracy quite satisfactory for engineering practice. The experimental and generated data of vibration displacements are compared and much clearer comparison is given on the phase plane: displacements versus velocities. It was stated that a good generalization takes place both with respect to displacements and velocities.     

Prediction of free field vibrations due to pile driving using a dynamic soil–structure interaction formulation

This paper presents a numerical model for the prediction of free field vibrations due to vibratory and impact pile driving. As the focus is on the response in the far field where deformations are relatively small, a linear elastic constitutive behaviour is assumed for the soil. The free field vibrations are calculated by means of a coupled FE–BE model based on a subdomain formulation. First, the case of vibratory pile driving is considered, where the contributions of different types of waves are investigated for several penetration depths. In the near field, the soil response is dominated by a vertically polarized shear wave, whereas in the far field, body waves are importantly attenuated and Rayleigh waves dominate the ground vibration. Second, the case of impact pile driving is considered. A linear wave equation model is used to estimate the impact force during the driving process. Apart from the response of a homogeneous halfspace, it is also investigated how the soil stratification influences the ground vibration for the case of a soft layer on a stiffer halfspace. When the penetration depth is smaller than the layer thickness, the layered medium has no significant influence on ground vibrations. However, when the penetration depth is larger than the layer thickness, the influence of the layered medium becomes more significant. The computed ground vibrations are finally compared with field measurements reported in the literature.