Investigation of the site-specific character of blast vibration prediction

A new site-specific vibration prediction equation was developed based on site measurement performed in a sandstone quarry. Also, several vibration prediction equations were compiled from the blasting literature and used to predict ground vibration for the studied quarry. By this way, site-specific equation created by regression analysis and the equations obtained from the blasting literature were compared in terms of prediction accuracy. Some of the equations obtained from the literature made better predictions than the site-specific equation created for the studied quarry. The prediction equations were grouped, and the effects of the rock formation and mine type on the prediction accuracy were investigated. Suitable error measures for evaluation of ground vibration prediction were examined in detail. A new general prediction equation was created using site factors (K, β) of the examined studies. The general equation was created using 17 prediction equations reported by blast researchers. Prediction capability of the general equation was found to be strong. Diversity of the blast data is one of the strongest features of the general equation.