Investigation of the effects of different soils on the propagation mechanisms of ground vibration waves

This study examines the propagation mechanisms of ground vibrations resulting from blasting operations frequently practiced in mining and construction activities in different soils. For this purpose, different field conditions were laboratory-scale simulated into six main models using sand and clay. The planned models were placed in a tank. A ball-releasing mechanism was used to create artificial ground vibrations and depending on the studied model one or two seismographs were used to measure the resulting particle velocity. The studied models allowed investigating the effect of the lithology, compaction degree, water-saturation, position of the vibrational source and the number, position, thickness and orientation of clay joints placed in sand on the measured particle velocity. The conducted experimental study highlighted the absorbing effect of both dry and water saturated loose sand and the amplifying effect of loose clay on the resulting particle velocity as the distance from the vibration source increased. Moreover, compaction, water-saturation together with increasing the depth of the vibration source induced a decrease in the resulting particle velocity in sand. Furthermore, this study presents preliminary results on the influence of the number, position, thickness and orientation of clay joints placed in sand on the resulting particle velocities.