Evaluation of Surface Ground Vibrations Induced by Tunnel Blasts During Railway Construction: A Case Study

Ground vibration is a major concern during tunnel blasting operations, and its control plays an important role in minimizing the undesirable environmental impacts of the blasting. This paper presents the observation and analysis of surface ground vibrations produced by blasting near residential regions during the construction of railway tunnels. Effects of large uncharged holes in cylindrical cut and detonator type on the ground vibrations are investigated. Stie-specific attenuation relationships of peak particle velocity with scaled distance are established using the conventional model by the United States Bureau of Mines, which are comparable with those available in literature. Also, the performance of existing prediction models is evaluated with the determination of site constants, and the Pal Roy model is found to be adequate for application to the study site. The maximum amount of explosive for permissible ground vibration levels to ensure the safety of adjacent structures is established, and the human response to blast vibrations is discussed.